Big Sky Times

Kerry White, the executive director of Citizens for Balanced Use, has expressed concerns about a proposed conservation area in southwestern Montana. White believes that this plan, which aims to establish a 5.8 million-acre conservation area, would give the federal government more control over the land and potentially limit local residents' access to it.

In an interview with Federal Newswire, White stated, "American Stewards has done extensive research on the Biden 30 x 30 plan and the designation of massive swaths of land as conservation areas under the disguise of protecting open space and wildlife connectivity when in fact this effort is for more federal government control and federal land acquisition."

According to the American Stewards of Liberty (ASL), the proposed Missouri Headwaters Conservation Area (MHCA) would cover a vast area of 9,000 square miles, including 3,742,220 acres of government-owned land and 2,050,420 acres of privately held land. The state of Montana owns 500,000 acres within this designated region. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) initiated this plan without prior notice or collaboration with the Governor or the Attorney General.

The USFWS intends to create conservation areas for wildlife corridors, climate resilience, and broader ecosystem protection. They emphasize voluntary landowner involvement to maintain working lands and discourage development. However, concerns have been raised among private landowners about potential future involuntary participation under the National Wildlife Refuge system.

White argues that this designation would proceed without local support and is a guise to expand federal government control and land acquisition. He believes that the plan prioritizes wildlife over access to vital resources, potentially reducing tax revenue and affecting essential services. White warns that this could lead to increased reliance on foreign nations for critical resources, impacting local economies and industries such as agriculture, timber, mining, and oil and gas development.

There are also concerns about the potential impact on mineral exploration and development in the area. White worries that increased litigation by environmental organizations could further constrain mining and timber activities, leading to job losses and economic instability. The potential loss of federal grazing permits could also significantly impact ranch operations and local economies.

The involvement of international investors through a "Natural Asset Company" (NAC) has raised questions about foreign interests and potential financial gains at the expense of private landowners. White highlights that these out-of-state investors lack a local connection and understanding of the area, leading to restricted access to areas that were previously open to the public.

White points out that the effects of this plan are already being felt in the state, with locked gates preventing access to public lands on previously open roads. He states that there is strong local opposition to the MHCA plan, as well as the potential categorization of this conservation area as a Hybrid Area and the involvement of international investors and countries in acquiring interests within it.

Despite claims of strong local support by the USFWS and their NGO partners responsible for writing the plan, White asserts that the three public meetings held in Montana have seen strong opposition to the MHCA. He argues that the plan is not supported by local residents, local governments, or even state government agencies. White believes that this plan is a top-down overreach by the USFWS and that the public is being deceived into thinking it is a good deal for Montana.

The concerns raised by Kerry White and other critics highlight the potential implications of the proposed conservation area in southwestern Montana. "This plan is not supported by local residents, local governments or even state government agencies. This flawed plan is a top-down overreach by the USFWS. The USFWS and their NGO partners are deceiving the public in thinking this is a good deal for Montana. Nothing could be further from the truth," White said.