NWTF Receives SITKA Ecosystem Grant for Conservation in Big Sky Country

The project dovetails into the NWTF’s burgeoning Big Sky Forestry Initiative, a collaborative endeavor, co-developed by the NWTF and the USDA Forest Service, set to enhance wildlife habitat, secure clean water, bolster recreational opportunities and create communities and forests resilient to the threat of catastrophic wildfire. 

“We are thrilled to be continuing our support of NWTF’s important initiatives to improve habitat for wildlife nationwide,” said Lindsey Davis, director of SITKA’s ecosystem grants and conservation partnerships. “The Big Sky Forestry Initiative represents an inspiring large-scale collaborative effort with our federal land managers and will have a big impact on wildlife and its habitats in our home state of Montana. This forestry work will not only benefit turkey hunters, but recreationalists and the ecosystem at large.”

Like many forests throughout the American West, forests across Montana were historically shaped by fire. Catastrophic and uncharacteristic wildfires, however, have drastically different outcomes and threaten Montana’s natural resources and those who revere them.

Increasingly common, catastrophic wildfires are driven by an accumulation of dense forest fuels that are a result of more than 100 years of fire suppression. The warmer, drier climate compounds the matter, along with severe drought, insects and disease, resulting in larger, more severe wildfires that degrade wildlife habitat, reduce access to public lands and impose serious risks to Montanans living on the wildland-urban interface. The Big Sky Forestry Initiative will significantly reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire while enhancing the overall ecological values on the landscape. 

SITKA funds are being directed to the Stevensville Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest in Western Montana to remove woody biomass from the forest, preparing the landscape for prescribed burning and creating desired forest conditions and optimal wildlife habitat.

The removal of small diameter, hazardous fuels is essential to safely reintroducing fire as a management tool back onto the landscape. The treatments will result in less dense forests, which can be managed through prescribed fire. Additionally, removing these forest fuels will reduce competition between trees, increasing sunlight and water, improving vegetative structure and composition and ultimately boosting wildlife habitat diversity.

Priority project locations have been identified by Forest Service staff. The NWTF Montana district biologist will work with the Forest Service silviculturist to design treatments that optimize wildlife habitat diversity.

Additionally, in September of 2021, the NWTF was awarded $20,000 from SITKA Gear’s Ecosystems Grant Program to help support ongoing efforts to restore oak savannas across west Michigan. These funds provided critical support for on-the-ground protection and restoration efforts of more than 1,700 acres of oak savannas on Forest Service lands. The funds were also used as match to leverage additional federal dollars exceeding $2 million in project costs.

“We have deep appreciation for SITKA’s generous support of our Big Sky Forestry Initiative,” said Patt Dorsey, NWTF West region director of conservation operations. “SITKA is much more than a business that provides hunters and outdoors enthusiasts with great gear. They understand that without healthy forests and wildlife habitats, those opportunities do not exist. We look forward to working with the USFS and making a difference for Montanans.”

To learn more about the NWTF's Big Sky Forestry Initiative and how you can contribute to this great effort, contact Regional Director Jason Tarwater at (785) 221-6515, jtarwater@nwtf.net or go to https://events.nwtf.org/260011-2023.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has conserved or enhanced over 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale.

2023 is the NWTF's 50^th anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization's mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50^th anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF's people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals.