About the Yaak Valley Forest Council

Our Mission                                                                                                                                                                                                        Working for a wild Yaak through science, education, and bold action.

Our Vision                                                                                                                                                                                                      

We envision a wild Yaak where grizzly bears and salamanders thrive. A valley of superlatives—the lowest in Montana—the Yaak is veined with creeks and rivers, possessed of marshes, fens, swamps, cold spring seeps, and yet also alpine lakes. It’s a land of paradoxes—that which does not burn will rot. Our vision is to recover the ancient forests that have been lost. We will protect those that remain. Core of wildness, Yaak is refuge.
 

The Yaak Valley Forest Council, created in 1997, implements conservation and restoration programs focused on protecting and preserving critical wildlife habitat for the sensitive, threatened, and endangered species inhabiting the wild Yaak.

With a dedicated Staff and active Board of Directors, the Yaak Valley Forest Council has established a strong and growing conservation presence within the valley, as well as the region. The Forest Council is led by Yaak Valley residents who know the landscape intimately, have a high level of field experience, and have developed strong partnerships  with other grassroots groups. The Forest Council partners with these groups, county, state, and federal officials toward habitat conservation, restoration, connectivity, and scientific research.

The Board of Directors, staff, and supporters share a commitment to the Yaak that requires sacrifice and perseverance. The Forest Council works to ensure that resource management plans for the Yaak Valley move away from the extraction industry and toward an adaptive whole ecosystem strategy that accounts for the effects of climate change through the application of sound science, habitat conservation, and preservation of the Yaak’s roadless areas.

For more information or to add your name to our supporter list and receive email updates and newsletters- email us at info@yaakvalley.org or call 406-295-9736.