Since 1978, The Montana Land Reliance (MLR) has partnered with Montana’s landowners to permanently protect agricultural lands, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space.

The lasting benefits of MLR’s work are the perpetuation of a lifestyle and an economy that rely on responsibly managed private land and increasingly valuable Montana open spaces that will continue to nourish the spirit of future generations.

    • 1,286,862 acres protected in perpetuity

    • 965 families partnered in stewardship

    • 1,906 miles of streambank protected

Conservation Easements

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust like MLR that permanently limits the uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values.

Success Stories

Meet the landowners behind the nation’s largest state-based land trust.

2022 Annual Report

Interactive Map

Forever Montana Society

At it’s heart, MLR is a family of individuals who have decided to make land conservation part of their legacy.The Forever Montana Society exists to honor those who have left a lasting legacy of conservation and to inspire others to do the same. With perpetuity in mind, the Forever Montana Society consists of all MLR’s easement donors and those who have provided for conservation in their overall financial and estate plans, sustaining agricultural lands, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space fore generations to come.

Ruby Habitat Foundation

The Ruby Habitat Foundation (RHF), a sister organization to MLR, is a non-profit working ranch in Southwest Montana dedicated to fulfilling the vision of it’s founders, Craig and Martha Woodson. RHF’s mission encourages balance between agriculture and wildlife while allowing managed access to the ranch for a wide range of activities, from fly fishing to bird watching.  Their educational outreach programs include field trips with local school kids, to wildlife speakers, and other educational workshops.

Donate Now

Give the gift of open space to Montana’s future generations.