Mission

Fly over the Lolo National Forest with TRCP, Montana Dep of Fish Wildlife and Parks, and PEW Charitable Trust.

The Lolo National Forest, spans more than 3.5 million acres and supports cold-water fisheries, rich wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation that fuels local economies. From the air, it’s easy to see how these forests knit together the mountains, rivers, and communities of western Montana - serving as both a refuge for wildlife and a resource for thousands of Montanans who depend on them for work and play.

The U.S. Forest Service is in the process of revising the Lolo National Forest Land Management Plan, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape how these lands will be cared for in the decades ahead. The current management plans are outdated and don’t reflect today’s realities - rising recreation use, new science on wildlife migration, growing human populations, invasive species, and the mounting pressures of climate change. By highlighting areas such as ungulate winter range, zones where active forest management can build habitat resilience, and potential wildlife crossing sites, this overflight aimed to show what’s at stake and why proper management and science-based planning is so critical.

Thank you to our partners, experts, and decision-makers who joined us for these important flights - and to all who continue to speak up for the thoughtful stewardship of Montana’s wild and working landscapes.

Photos from the flights.