Middle Fork I & Middle Fork II Grasslands Conservation

Project Overview

The Middle Fork I & II Ranches, located in the Great Plains of Southeast Montana, have committed to permanently protecting soil carbon and maintaining a vibrant grassland ecosystem through the recording of two no-till conservation easements. Spanning over 37,000 acres, the easements held by Montana Land Reliance preserve critical habitat for a variety of grassland species including sage grouse, meadowlark, wild turkey, pronghorn, deer and elk. Carbon credits for avoided grassland conversion are based on preventing the loss of soil organic carbon that would occur if the land was plowed for commercial crop production, where intensive tillage for wheat and barely remain common conversion pressures in the surrounding counties. The Projects were developed by The Climate Trust and Inlandsis working with the ranching family, to provide upfront carbon payments directly supporting the easement acquisitions. Owned by Brent Salmond, a fifth-generation rancher, on-going stewardship of the ranches grassland resources reflect his belief in preserving working lands that benefit rural communities and the rangelands they depend on.