On Monday, April 8th, in Bozeman, Stephen Capra, Executive Director of Bold Visions Conservation, will present his vision for a new Madison Gallatin Wildlife National Monument. The event will be held at Bozeman Public Library beginning at 6:30pm and is open to the public.
Capra has thirty years’ experience in fighting for public lands and threatened wildlife in the west. He spearheaded the creation of two national monuments in New Mexico: Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountain Desert Peaks.
Capra said “The Yellowstone Ecosystem shelters populations of iconic, threatened wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, bison, wolverines and bighorn sheep. But it’s becoming ever clearer that Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks are not big enough to assure long term survival of these species. It was here some of these animals made their last stand, and it is from here they need to expand.”
Phil Knight, long-time advocate for wildlife and public lands from Bozeman, said “We have the largest unprotected roadless area in Montana, the Gallatin Range, right here in our big back yard. Protecting the Gallatins is part of the vision for this national monument. I support this vision for a new national monument. We need to think outside the box and entertain true visionary ideas in a rapidly changing world.”
The new monument would protect 1.6 million acres of national forest in the Madison and Gallatin ranges and around Island Park Idaho, preserving vast lands that provide essential year round habit for Yellowstone wildlife. Bold Visons hopes to convince President Biden to set aside this national monument.
Capra noted that “The human population of the Yellowstone region is booming and sprawling subdivisons are paving over some of the best wildlife habitat. Meanwhile national forests are getting hammered by a US Forest Service bent on timber extraction and damn the consequences. Recreational use is clashing with wildlife survival. We need a better vision for this Yellowstone landscape where nature still has a chance. That vision is the Madison Gallatin Wildlife National Monument.
For more information, visit www.bvconservation.org where you can learn more about the organization’s efforts and other Bold Visions campaigns. •
