We recap our 2025 favorite conservation moments and wins in Greater Yellowstone.

When the Roadless Rule was adopted in 2001, it followed one of the most robust public engagement processes in U.S. history. In stark contrast, the USDA initiated the current rescission process in August with a 21-day comment period and no public meetings. 

Before decisions are made that could permanently alter these irreplaceable landscapes, the American public deserves a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Conserving the vast Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem often starts small. It begins with a conversation, a question, or the spark of an idea that grows into something much larger. That’s exactly what happened to Idaho sixth grader Olivia Nance. What started as a school research project on bison turned into a heartfelt effort that raised nearly $400 to support their conservation. 

A recent water quality study by researchers at Brigham Young University–Idaho found that streams near the Kilgore Gold Exploration site are highly sensitive to acid pollution, underscoring the risks that a potential open-pit, heap-leach cyanide gold mine could bring in this area.

Beaver dams slow water, create wetlands that store rain and snowmelt, recharge groundwater, filter out sediment, and provide critical habitat for Greater Yellowstone’s wildlife. In short, beaver activity makes landscapes more resilient to a changing climate—benefits Montana needs now more than ever. 

What we’ve learned over the last four decades, and even more acutely understood in just the last few years, is that conserving a place as big as Greater Yellowstone starts small. Conservation of this beloved region begins first in conversations with friends, stakeholders, and neighbors. It’s working together with all people to build home-grown solutions that protect iconic wildlife, our public lands, and the cold, clean waters that are the lifeblood of Greater Yellowstone. And it turns out that when we work together, we’re greater.

Rivers look and act differently following a wildfire. The impacts of fire to rivers are significant and last for years to decades, until vegetation can recover and key physical processes begin to normalize. Federal and state agencies are teaming up with partners like GYC to work on projects that help degraded streams recover faster from the increasing risks posed by wildfire. Check out our restoration work on Sheridan Creek!

New study shows that Yellowstone’s ecosystem works best when bison are allowed to do what they’ve done for millennia—migrate freely across long distances, in large numbers.

Much has recently been written about the galvanizing force of public lands. I suggest we strive for more than simply defending public land from the highest bidder or biggest dozer. Let’s proactively protect them. This is the best investment we can make for ourselves, our children, and our way life. Fortunately, there are two opportunities right now in southwest Montana to do just that.  

Our drinking water, pristine public lands, and iconic wildlife are at risk. This week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its plans to strip millions of acres of forest lands of their protections, including more than 58 million acres across the country and nearly 19 million acres in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Urgently, we need you to speak up for public lands – again.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission’s 2025–2026 wolf regulations uphold protections for Yellowstone wolves but also set a dangerous precedent by moving closer to a broad-brush, statewide approach to management. While we are relieved that Region 3 subquotas will help mitigate overharvest near Yellowstone, they remain too high given recent population declines. A one-size-fits-all statewide quota fails to reflect local management and conservation needs, making these regulations a concerning step in the wrong direction.

Some of the wildest, most pristine forests in the region may be at risk under a proposal to roll back the 25-year-old Roadless Area Conservation Rule. These undeveloped lands provide drinking water, habitat for iconic wildlife, and world-class outdoor recreation opportunities.