Vital Ground Foundation Inc

PROTECT AND RESTORE NORTH AMERICA'S GRIZZLY BEAR POPULATIONS BY CONSERVING WILDLIFE HABITAT.

LAND CONSERVATION: VITAL GROUND IDENTIFIES CRUCIAL GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT ON PRIVATE LAND AND WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THE LAND'S CONSERVATION VALUES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ACQUIRING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON THE LAND THROUGH DONATION OR BARGAIN PURCHASE, OR BY PURCHASING LAND IN FEE TITLE THEN MANAGING IT TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND THE PUBLIC. VITAL GROUND HAS A PERPETUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE LANDS ON WHICH IT HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. VITAL GROUND HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO RESTORE AND MANAGE THE LAND IT OWNS TO PROVIDE QUALITY HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING AND MANAGING ITS OWN PROJECTS, VITAL GROUND STRATEGICALLY PROVIDES GRANTS TO AGENCIES, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND OTHER NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST THEIR EFFORTS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE. 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:CONSERVATION EASEMENTS: - ACQUIRED ONE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN IDAHO TOTALING 1,040 ACRES AND ONE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN MONTANA TOTALING 98 ACRES TO PROTECT KEY LINKAGE AREAS BETWEEN THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, CABINET-YAAK AND SELKIRK GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREAS.- MONITORED 19 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN MONTANA, TWO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN IDAHO, AND FOUR U.S. FOREST SERVICE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN IDAHO.LAND ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT:- ACQUIRED FOUR PROPERTIES TOTALING 574 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN MONTANA TO PROTECT THEIR WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VALUES, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT LINKAGE BETWEEN THE SELKIRK, PURCELL AND CABINET-YAAK ECOSYSTEMS.- ASSISTED THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE WITH THE ACQUISITION OF TEN ACRES OF GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT ALONG THE DESIGNATED SCENIC NORTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD RIVER ADJACENT TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.- CONTINUED PROMOTING THE GOALS OF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE'S COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM THROUGH FOREST STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES AT VITAL GROUND'S ALVORD LAKE COMMUNITY FOREST, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS' COMMITTEE THAT GUIDES MANAGEMENT OF THE FOREST.- MONITORED AND MANAGED FOUR FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN IDAHO AND FIVE FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN MONTANA.- CONDUCTED HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES ON PROPERTIES HELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILDLIFE IN BONNER COUNTY, IDAHO, AND IN LINCOLN COUNTY, MONTANA.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION: VITAL GROUND PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS, ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE AND HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL MAILERS, WEBSITE, EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, LIVE PRESENTATIONS, VIDEOS AND OTHER MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THEIR HABITAT, PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND HUMANS AND ENHANCE THE SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - PRODUCED 10,000 COPIES OF VITAL NEWS, THE ORGANIZATION'S BIANNUAL 16-PAGE PRINT NEWSLETTER THAT REPORTS ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.- PRODUCED 12 ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS PLUS OTHER ELECTRONIC CORRESPONDENCE THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 9,000 UNIQUE RECIPIENTS (172,800 TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS). THESE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND FUNDING NEEDS.- PRODUCED OTHER ASSORTED POSTCARDS AND PROMOTIONS THAT REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS AND FUNDING NEEDS.- MAINTAINED A WEBSITE (WWW.VITALGROUND.ORG) PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS, WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, CURRENT GRIZZLY BEAR CONSERVATION CHALLENGES AND PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. DURING 2021, THE WEBSITE EXPERIENCED 118,000 UNIQUE VISITORS AND 138,000 SESSIONS.- PRODUCED TWO NEW VIDEOS AND GREW VITAL GROUND'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO 24,900 SUBSCRIBERS. - PROMOTED WILDLIFE HABITAT, GRIZZLY BEAR NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION TOPICS TO A SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 90,000.

OTHER: IN ADDITION TO ITS HABITAT CONSERVATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND TRIBAL AGENCIES, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE. PROACTIVE PREVENTION OF AVOIDABLE CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IS CRITICAL TO COMMUNITIES ACCEPTING GRIZZLIES AS THE SPECIES RECOVERS AND EXPANDS BACK INTO LOCATIONS WHERE IT HAS BEEN ABSENT, IN SOME CASES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.THROUGH ITS 2021 CONSERVATION PARTNERS GRANT PROGRAM, VITAL GROUND AWARDED $63,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO 17 LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WORKING TO PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IN 13 HIGH PRIORITY LANDSCAPES. THESE INVESTMENTS HELPED:- PERMANENTLY PROTECT 772 ACRES OF PRIORITY PRIVATE LANDS IDENTIFIED IN VITAL GROUND'S ONE LANDSCAPE INITIATIVE NEAR GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.- CONSTRUCT ELECTRIC FENCING AROUND VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.- GLEAN 22,268 POUNDS OF FRUIT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE ATTRACT WILDLIFE INTO PROXIMITY WITH PEOPLE.- PURCHASE 120 CANS OF BEAR SPRAY AND 95 SPRAY HOLSTERS AND 10 WILDLIFE SENSORS FOR COMMUNITY USE.- PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO 35,042 PEOPLE DURING 96 EVENTS.- COMPOST 178 LIVESTOCK CARCASSES.- RESPOND TO 73 CONFLICTS WITH KARELIAN BEAR DOGS.- LOAN OUT 9 BEAR-RESISTANT GARBAGE CANS.- SUPPORT RANGE RIDERS ON MONTANA'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT COVERING 34,000 ACRES ON FIVE RANCHES.- PROTECT 26,000 ACRES FROM LIVESTOCK-BEAR CONFLICTS ON THE BLACKFEET RESERVATION IN MONTANA.