RECFi^ATION AND PARKS DIVISION 



The Recreation and Parks Division of the Montana Fish 

 a.id Game Department administers 156 areas for public outdoor 

 recreation and more are needed to adequately serve the needs 

 of residents and visitors from other states. 



The opportunity for achieving excellence in outdoor 

 recreation exists in Montana. The opportunity is enhanced 

 by several factors including the absence of a high population 

 density, a relatively stable total population, geographic 

 isolation, an overall physical environment which has not 

 yet been irreparably damaged, and the fact that a relatively 

 large proportion of the state's population is interested in 

 outdoor recreation activities of one form or another. 



Throughout the current decade of the 1970' s and beyond, 

 forces which destroy or detract from the natural physical 

 environment can be expected to continue. However, there are 

 signs of a growing awareness of damage to the ecosystem in 

 which we live and the social problems thereby created. Con- 

 tinuing environmental education should lead toward developing 

 a sense of personal involvement and stewardship among Montanans, 

 Long-range, comprehensive recreation planning is a basic 

 prerequisite for both maintaining environmental quality and 

 quality in recreational activities. 



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