ESSEX, MT-- As part of a field visit to the Glacier National Park region, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett received a briefing on Friday from Dan Vincent, Executive Director of the Great Northern Environmental Stewardship Area in Montana.
“The Great Northern Environmental Stewardship Area is a model partnership; what I’ve seen here demonstrates why the group recently received a cooperative conservation award from the Department of the Interior,” Scarlett said. “Many organizations working together have almost completely eliminated the conflict between grizzly bears and humans in the area.”
The Great Northern Environmental Stewardship Area partnership includes more than 20 public and private organizations. It emerged in response to grizzly bear deaths associated with rail transportation. The partnership developed a rapid response protocol, increased the safety of hazardous materials transport, coordinated a digital mapping effort, and supported the study of wildlife habitat corridors.