Donate Now

Photo by David Renwald

Help Forest Refuge Alliance establish America's first National Climate Refuge in Montana's Yaak watershed, a sanctuary where grizzly bears, lynx, and other threatened wildlife can survive a warming world. Your gift will also help protect ancient forests that capture and store vast amounts of carbon.

Background

The Yaak watershed, part of the Kootenai National Forest, was once about half old-growth forest. Today only 10% of the Yaak’s old and mature inland rainforest remains, and none of it is protected from logging.

As the planet warms, research projects the Yaak will stay cooler and wetter than most of the Northern Rockies, making it a climate lifeboat for wolverines, grizzly bears, Canada lynx, and other wildlife that depend on deep snow and long winters.

Mature and old-growth forests store far more carbon than younger forests and continue to absorb CO2 for centuries. Newly planted stands are often net atmospheric carbon sources for years after logging.