Just northwest of Yellowstone National Park rise two remarkable mountain ranges home to a host of iconic wildlife, the headwaters of significant river systems, and world-class recreation opportunities. Encompassed in the 3.1-million-acre Custer Gallatin National Forest, these are the Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges. The Madison and Gallatin ranges are some of the wildest places left in the continental United States. As more and more people move to the communities surrounding the Madison and Gallatin ranges – often drawn by unmatched access to public lands – this wild landscape is experiencing unprecedented use. Montana is changing fast, and these ranges are under threat. While the Madison and Gallatin ranges have some protections under the current Custer Gallatin National Forest management plan, these protections are not permanent. We need a solution to forever protect these lands for all of us. That’s why the Greater Yellowstone Coalition partnered with a group of local businesses, recreationists, outdoorsmen, and conservationists to develop a durable solution – the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act. The Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act is proposed legislation that will permanently protect 250,000 acres of public land in the Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges and the clean drinking water, incredible access to outdoor recreation, and critical wildlife habitat they provide. We’re mixing up our usual podcast format today! To start off, we’ll hear four stories from people who love this landscape and work to protect it. Then, we’ll chat more in depth with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s Montana Conservation Associate Erin Steva, who you may remember from our episode on backcountry trail work.The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.> MONTANANS: ENDORSE THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ACT> Follow the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act on Facebook and Instagram> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers: https://greateryellowstone.org/podcast-sign-up-stickers> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition: https://lovegyc.org/podcastgivingPodcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap ArtMusic > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)Thumbnail Photo > Louise Johns PhotographySend us a note!Support the show

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