The Legislature established the program known as Habitat Montana in 1987, which allowed the agency to buy land outright, purchase a conservation easement on land, or lease land.

More than three decades later, by far the most acreage managed by the agency is from purchasing an interest in land from the surface owner. Conservation easements are deals between a surface owner and the easement purchaser; usually aimed at allowing current uses while preserving wildlife habitat. The DFWP manages about 349,000 acres of conservation easements purchased through Habitat Montana.  More than 3 million acres of land are under conservation easements across the state.

The Environmental Quality Council will hear an update on the program at its July 19 meeting in Helena and also discuss a new lease program proposed by FWP.