Montana Natural Heritage Program a vital resource

Story by Chris Boone, State Biologist, Montana/Dakotas State Office

One of the most important responsibilities of the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office is to ensure that our statewide biological information is up to date, reliable and secure in a system that is readily available. Having the capacity to manage such valuable information is not an effort undertaken by the agency itself but has been possible due to our long standing relationship and trusting partnership with the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP).

Established by the legislature in 1983, the MTNHP is part of the Montana State Library's Natural Resource Information System, operated by the University of Montana. It is part of an extensive network of natural heritage programs, which share data through the public-private partnership that is the NatureServe Network. The program has a staff of professionals with expertise in zoology, ecology, botany, database management, web programming, and geographic information systems (GIS).

The well-developed databases are extensively and efficiently managed to provide up to date information on the distribution, status, and general biology of terrestrial and aquatic species, including BLM Special Status Species and their associate habitats. Their website receives millions of page views annually, providing information 24/7 to the BLM, our federal partners, natural resource managers and citizens throughout the nation.   

The MTNHP program is the BLM’s primary source for information and expertise to support statewide stewardship of native species and habitats, emphasizing those of conservation concern. The program has continually assembled, integrated, maintained, and disseminated information on fish, wildlife, plant species and biological communities throughout the state of Montana and parts of the Dakotas. This in large part, has helped inform the agency to proactively manage biological resources on our federal lands.

Information is highly useable and easily obtained. Agency employees have been trained and receive consistent technical support using the program features such as Montana Field Guide, Map Viewer and the Environmental Summary Tool. They have also helped the development over the years through trials and feedback mechanisms, resulting in a viable cumulative product that meets the needs of our natural resource managers.

The program continues to support an environment where collective stewardship objectives across boundaries are possible. MTNHP’s consistent and reliable management of biological information and service to the community supports interagency missions and natural resource management trust and communication within all local perspectives.   

The partnership with MTNHP has allowed the BLM Montana/Dakotas to be proactive in natural resource conservation, providing integral natural resource information and best available science for thorough analysis of our federal actions. All of this is critical for guiding the agency in making effective multiple use decisions of public land resources and aligning our work with the BLM mission and our national priorities.