Harbinger contributed to the Working for Montana Agriculture: Economic Benefits of Conservation Easements for Montana’s Farms, Ranches and Communities report.
The idea for this report—produced by the Montana Association of Land Trusts, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Heart of the Rockies—was spawned by a cohort of Montana participants in our Tell the Economic Story of Your Trails and Conserved Lands Without Hiring an Economist course. Harbinger spearheaded an analysis of the economic impact of easements and was part of the project editorial team.
Between 2014 and 2021, every federal dollar of conservation easement financing invested in Montana’s farms and ranches through the ALE program yielded $1.89 of economic activity. All told, this $109 million investment:
Produced a total economic impact of $182 million,
Supported 1,057 local jobs and $41.5 million in labor income, and
Contributed $99 million to the state’s GDP.
In addition to straight-up economic impact, the report focuses on a range of other benefits these conservation easements provide, with stories about how participating in this program has helped farmers and ranchers improve the viability of their operations and secure their farmland for the future.