agreeable by the producer and FWP, FWP will also work toward allotment retirement, 

 relocation, or buyout where it is determined to be necessary for maintenance of a 

 healthy grizzly bear population. These three options will only be pursued under mutual 

 agreement between FWP and the producers or other interests. 



Linkages/Corridor: Typically, southwestern and west central Montana mountain 

 ranges are linked by relatively large intermountain valleys that are primarily in private 

 ownership. Land use on the private lands is dominated by agriculture (both ranching 

 and farming). These private lands provide significant and high quality winter and year 

 round habitat for a large proportion of southwest and west central deer, elk, and 

 antelope populations. They also provide high quality riparian and wetland habitat as 

 well as key upland habitat for a wide variety of native nongame species found in 

 Montana. Although these same habitats are important in providing connections 

 between primarily federally owned mountain ranges for bears, their greatest value lies in 

 the habitat they provide for many other wildlife species. In short, our habitat programs 

 are designed to conserve these habitats and in so doing preserve connectivity for bears 

 between mountain ranges. Of all the western states, only Montana has an aggressive 

 lands program, which includes acquiring via purchase, conservation easements on 

 private lands determined to be important habitat that is seriously threatened. This 

 program, by statute, requires our habitat dollars to be spent across the state. In 

 southwestern and west central Montana, all of "Habitat Montana" dollars are spent 

 conserving intermountain foothill habitat, which is vital in conserving habitat for wildlife -- 

 including bears -- and in maintaining connectivity between mountain ranges. 



We will continue to work with private non-profit land trusts in their effort to secure 

 easements, primarily donated easements, from landowners occupying these 

 intermountain valleys. 



Montana FWP has and will continue to place an emphasis on conserving private lands 

 adjacent to highway corridors that have been identified as key wildlife crossing areas. 

 FWP's emphasis with the Montana Department of Transportation will continue to 

 influence the use of highway mitigation dollars to secure adjacent private lands from 

 additional development. Secondary emphasis will continue to be placed on "engineered 

 structures" that facilitate wildlife crossings. However, during site-specific highway 

 reconstruction projects FWP will support fence and highway structure placements that 

 facilitate wildlife movement. 



Coordination Between Wyoming, Idaho, and IVIontana: Reviewers recommended 

 that all aspects of the management program be coordinated between the three states 

 and/or federal agencies in the greater Yellowstone area. FWP intends to continue the 

 existing coordination that is occurring under the IGBC under a newly formed committee 

 if the grizzly bear were to be delisted. Obviously, programs in the states are intertwined 

 and many aspects of the management plan cannot be implemented without participating 

 in the appropriate federal processes. 



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