t:HAPTKR 2: AKKKCrEDII-NVrRONMBNT 



Wildlife Habitat 



Montana's diverse landscape can be described as six ecosystems based on topography, climate and 

 vegetation (Table 2). The gray wolf is a habitat generalist and historically occurred across all vegetation 

 types in Montana where there was adequate prey. Hence, current day wolf habitat will be defined more 

 specifically by ungulate distribution and human settlement patterns. 



A keystone of FWP's habitat conservation efforts is Habitat Montana. This program focuses on land 

 conservation initiatives that benefit wildlife and maintain other natural resource values of private lands. 

 FWP administers a network of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) that are managed to benefit wildlife 

 (wintering ungulates in particular) and to provide opportunities for public recreation. These lands are 

 purchased using earmarked revenue collected from the sale of hunting licenses and matching federal 

 revenues. Vegetation management objectives on many of them are met in part by livestock grazing 

 through cooperative agreements with adjacent landowners. FWP also participates in numerous federal 

 habitat conservation programs, such as a Forest Legacy (USFS) and Habitat Conservation Plans 

 (USFWS). 



Table 2. Six major ecosystems of Montana based on topography, climate and vegetation. 



Plant Species of Special Concern 



Montana supports a rich diversity of plant species. The Montana Natural Heritage Program has identified 

 365 species of va.scular plants that are of special concern in the state (Heidel 1996). The term "special 

 concern" is applied to plant species that could be reduced in number by land management to the point 

 where they would be listed as threatened or endangered. USFWS is responsible for listing threatened and 

 endangered plant species that require protection under the federal ESA. 



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