Over the past fifty years, the Great Burn Conservation Alliance (GBCA) has pioneered a collaborative conservation movement in Montana, Idaho, and nationally. We’ve worked to build a broad community of support for Wilderness protection and natural resource conservation by initiating, leading, and participating in collaborative efforts where our work has a significant impact.
Our staff has provided leadership on successful initiatives, including the Lolo Kootenai Accords, Clearwater Elk Collaborative, Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee, two Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees, the Clearwater Basin Collaborative, and the Montana Forest Restoration Committee.
Stewardship, Advocacy, EDUCATION IN ACTION
OUR EFFORTS GO TOWARDS
Season after season, our trail crews and dedicated volunteers have helped us monitor and maintain:
Access points, trails, and overuse
Treatments for invasive plant species
Habitat restoration
Backcountry campsites and public spaces
Wildlife attractants
Trailhead signage
What we do is powered by our love of place and desire to see it protected and cared for.
IN 2025 ALONE, OUR EFFORTS SAW…
168
ACRES TREATED FOR INVASIVE PLANTS
3,000
BIOCONTROLS RELEASED
1,200
K-12 STUDENTS REACHED
165
CAMPSITES RESTORED OR NATURALIZED
12
STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS COMPLETED
822
POUNDS OF TRASH REMOVED
You can find the Great Burn Conservation Alliance's recent IRS Form 990 on Candid.
The nonprofit organization is devoted to stewarding the ecosystem’s resources and educating the public about this special place, writes guest columnist Cyrus Forman.
GBCA CELEBRATES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FIELD SEASON ON THE IDAHO-MONTANA BORDER
YOUR VOICE MATTERS — ADVOCATE FOR THE BURN
The GBCA has influenced positive conservation language in the first forest management plans and travel management plans in all forests in the Mission Area. But there’s still an urgent need for support, and we could use all the help we can get, from submitting comments to attending meetings, and even just sharing your love of the Burn with friends and family.
EMERGING LEADERS IN THE GBCA
Hayley Newman, Executive Director of the Great Burn Conservation Alliance, received the Emerging Conservation Leader Award from the Missoula Conservation Roundtable in September 2025.
A roundtable of past recipients recognizes emerging leadership in natural resource management and environmental protection. The award honors individuals who demonstrate a strong and growing potential to advance conservation through effective partnerships, collaboration, and individual action.
Make any recurring donation, and opt in to receive action alerts, volunteer information, newsletters, and other opportunities to get engaged to become a Friend of the Burn. You’ll join hundreds of others who are showing support for permanent protection of this special place, so that it can stay Wild and available for generations to come.
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE BURN
