International Selkirk Loop

Stretching all the way into Canada, the rugged forests of northern Idaho are often regarded as wild and unspoiled landscapes, the result of small population centers in hard-to-reach places. Yet, as modern threats of development encroach on these vast landscapes, the need for conservation is pressing.

Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with Stimson Lumber Company (SLC) and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), has permanently protected 10,846 acres of working forest in Bonner and Boundary Counties through a strategic conservation easement. This collaborative approach ensures public access for recreation and hunting, safeguards critical wildlife habitat, and supports sustainable forestry that benefits local economies and preserves a way of life in the region.

Building on the success of similar projects in the McArthur Lake Wildlife Corridor and Clagstone Meadows, this project expands a contiguous network of protected lands stretching from Idaho’s Panhandle to Montana’s Glacier National Park. It guarantees that critical habitat will remain intact for threatened species like grizzly bears and Canada lynx.

Working forestlands offer a bounty of benefits, ensuring ecological systems stay intact opposed to being lost to large scale development. Imagine a vast forest being cut up into a plethora of mansion lots—lawns, concrete, and permanent infrastructure create a much different environment than keeping that landscape intact. Maintaining these lands also reduces wildfire risk and stores more carbon through carefully managed tree harvest rotations, reinforcing their role in Idaho’s climate resilience.

“We have a choice,” explains Dick Dolan, TPL’s Northern Rockies director. “We either conserve these working forests, or their fate will be death by a thousand driveways. That’s the crossroads we’re at. The development pressures will not abate.”

By protecting these working forests, the project prevents sprawling development while preserving the landscapes, livelihoods, and recreation that define the region. The International Selkirk Loop ensures residents and visitors alike can continue to enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking in this cherished corner of the state—ensuring Idaho’s natural heritage and recreational opportunities endure for generations to come.