HELP PROTECT THIS OLD-GROWTH FOREST
A FOREST WORTH PROTECTING
Nestled within the remote reaches of the Kootenai National Forest, the Yaak Valley stands as a sanctuary of untamed beauty and ecological richness in the farthest northwest corner of Montana. Here, ancient old-growth forests—adorned with towering larch, spruce, cedar, and hemlock trees—thrive in a landscape untouched by time. These majestic groves—home to endangered grizzly bears and myriad other wildlife—serve as vital refuges of biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
However, the tranquility of this unique ecosystem is threatened by the proposed Black Ram timber sale, which would impact more than 95,000 acres, including nearly 4,000 acres of forest earmarked for clearcutting and other logging. If implemented, some 60 million board feet of timber would be removed from the forest. Led by the U.S. Forest Service, this project imperils the very heart of the Yaak Valley, jeopardizing centuries-old trees and critical habitat for wildlife such as the most endangered population of grizzly bears in North America. In the face of this looming threat, it is imperative that we act to protect the ancient forests of the Yaak Valley, preserving their ecological integrity and safeguarding their irreplaceable natural heritage for generations to come.
Get Involved: Concerned Citizens
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Sign the Petition
Join us in defending the Yaak Valley’s Black Ram Forest! Sign the petition today to oppose the Black Ram timber sale and protect ancient forests and endangered wildlife by designating the nation’s first Climate Refuge. Every signature counts in preserving this natural haven for future generations.
Get Involved: Artists, Media & Brands
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Artists
Calling all artists! Join our mission to protect the Black Ram forest as the country's first Climate Refuge. Contact us to lend your creative talents in raising awareness and advocating for the preservation of old-growth forests and endangered wildlife. Together, let's make a lasting impact through art!
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Brands
Attention brands! Stand with us to protect the Yaak Valley’s Black Ram forest. Partner with us to showcase your commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship. Together, let’s make a meaningful impact by preserving ancient forests and safeguarding endangered wildlife for future generations.
Why is it critical we protect this old-growth forest?
It is critical to protect this old-growth forest for several reasons. First, it serves as habitat for an endangered population of grizzly bears, lynx, wolverine, and wolves, as well as 190 other animal species, including 25% of Montana’s species of concern. Additionally, the forest stores significant amounts of carbon, making it vital for mitigating climate change. Moreover, the ancient trees within the forest—some of which are 600-800 years old—are irreplaceable and represent a unique ecological heritage that must be preserved for future generations.
The First Proposed Climate Refuge
We aim to designate the Black Ram forest as a Climate Refuge (www.yaakvalley.org), making it the first such place of rare biological diversity and critical carbon storage in a Curtain of Green that will encircle the northern latitudes of the world like a necklace: a living, breathing necklace that can absorb 12 percent of the world’s annual carbon emissions. But first, we must stop this clearcut! Learn more.
The Montana Project Presents: An Evening with the Breedlove Black Ram Guitar
In Oct. 2023, our inaugural Climate Aid concert featured Maggie Rogers in Portland, ME. This year, on Sept. 27 and 28 in Missoula, MT, we’ll host a transcendent weekend in celebration of the Breedlove Black Ram Guitar and in solidarity for creating the first Climate Refuge in the Yaak’s Black Ram forest. A classic picking circle at the Longstaff House in Missoula will kick off the weekend and introduce the state’s musicians to this remarkable guitar. On Saturday, Sept. 28, in association with the Maclean Festival at the Wilma Theater, The Montana Project Presents: An Evening with the Breedlove Black Ram Guitar. Come hear singer songwriter James McMurtry, writers Rick Bass and Bill McKibben, violinist Pico Alt, and a host of other musicians, poets, Native leaders and representatives from Our Children’s Trust as we celebrate the Breedlove Black Ram Guitar and the forest that made her.
The Breedlove Black Ram Guitar
With the knowledge that art can change the world, we took one wind-felled tree from the Black Ram forest, a 315-year-old spruce, and from that one tree Jeff Bridges and Breedlove Guitars have crafted an exquisite guitar that has become the voice of the Black Ram forest and will advocate for the protection of all old and mature forests.
Who We Are:
The Montana Project
By celebrating Montana’s small batch makers and crafters, The Montana Project works to protect the open spaces, wildlife, and four distinct seasons that are the very things which inspire those makers and crafters and make Montana the place it is.