HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing changes to the Wildlife Habitat Conservation Lease Program and is seeking public comment on a supplemental environmental assessment (EA).  

A habitat conservation lease is a voluntary, incentive-based agreement between FWP and private landowners in which the landowner agrees to land management practices that protect wildlife habitat and FWP pays the landowner a one-time per-acre fee for the lease. These agreements are either 30 or 40 years in length  

FWP proposes to adjust the formula used to determine the fee for these leases. In general, the changes would increase the payment level and provide additional flexibility for enrolled landowners who may choose to pursue perpetual conservation options in the future.   

These potential changes are included in a draft supplemental environmental assessment. Public comment on the draft supplemental EA that describes and analyses the proposed program changes will start April 10 and close May 1.    

More information on the program changes, a copy of the supplemental EA and a link to submit comments can be found here.