FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 10, 2022

MCV: ‘As the saying goes, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu’

Governor Gianforte jeopardizes Montana’s conservation future  

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) – Montana Conservation Voters released the following statement from Executive Director Whitney Tawney in response to Governor Greg Gianforte’s announcement that Montana will not participate in the initiative to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s land and water by 2030 known as America the Beautiful and 30×30:

“As the saying goes, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. Governor Gianforte has turned his back on each and every Montanan in favor of a political stunt. Montana’s farmers, ranchers, hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts should be shaping the future of our outdoor legacy and our Governor just shut us out. Governor Gianforte may have nothing to contribute to the conversation about our conservation legacy, but Montanans sure do.”

A recent poll found 71 percent of Montanans support the 30×30 initiative and that 87 percent of Montanans say issues involving clean water, wildlife and public lands are important in deciding whether to support an elected public official. 

The Biden administration announced the 30×30 initiative in January 2021, which aims to protect 30 percent of land and water needed to stem the loss of biodiversity and prevent mass extinction of wildlife across the globe.