We obtained a court injunction preventing a large roadbuilding project in the Ninemile Demographic Connectivity Area that protects grizzly bear habitat connecting to the Bitterroot ecosystem. Our reports including a peer-reviewed published study of denning habitat provide solid data that informs public land management including grizzly bear recovery in the Bitterroot, key habitat connectivity areas and watersheds vital to bull trout and cutthroat trout. We are a constant presence in the media.
On May 7, we co-sponsored an event “The Roadless Lands Rally” at the Holiday Inn in downtown Missoula. We had a stellar lineup of speakers and the event was well-attended. You can watch the entire event via video on You Tube (The Missoula Roadless Area event, May 7, 2026). We also had t-shirts made which are available for just $20 each. Show your support for roadless wildlands!
The assault continues and the work is more urgent than ever. On the chopping block is the public’s control over their public lands, from handing over National Forests to the states for massively scaled roads, logging, burning and mining, to weakening or eliminating the national Travel Planning Rule which could allow motorized vehicles literally everywhere including off-road. The public’s right to involvement is being whittled away through exemptions to the National Environmental Policy Act and reduced or non-existent comment periods.
Public lands in public hands is a national outcry. The Trump administration is inviting corporations to access America’s public lands for exploitation and quick profits while the American people, the public owners of public lands are being given the shaft. A coordinated political attack aimed at selling off public lands is underway that would forever lock the public out of their public lands.
Also expected this summer is the Trump administration and Forest Service repeal of the Roadless Lands Conservation Rule. This would open over 58 million acres of the wildest remaining wildlife and fish habitat to new roads, logging and other developments. A huge number of Americans must speak out against this.
Another proposal would remove Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears, known as “de-listing.” This would also open up vast areas of wildlands and unravel decades of publicly funded grizzly restoration progress.
The Task Force has been attending the meetings held by the Lolo National Forest on the Revision to the long-term Forest Plan. We submitted our own alternative (see on montanaforestplan.org). The proposed Forest Plan revision will be released this summer with a 90-day public comment period. Look for an alert from us so you can submit comments.
This is no time to hang our heads in despair. We must join together to provide strong and sustained public resistance to taking the public out of their public lands. We need volunteers for information tabling and for helping with public events.
The Task Force is a small organization but we accomplish big things. Our track record is strong.
However, it requires funding to keep us in the forefront and making sure your voice gets heard. Please GIVE today!
