The Elk Foundation is now putting this expertise to work through its Habitat Stewardship Services program.  Acting as a general contractor or subcontractor, the Foundation is rolling up its sleeves to directly enhance habitat as a service to private landowners, government agencies, or corporations.  The Habitat Stewardship Services program allows the Elk Foundation to significantly increase the number of acres enhanced as part of our mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

Public Lands
Stewardship contracting is a relatively new authority that Congress granted to the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to better manage and restore federal lands.  This authority allows agencies to reinvest some or all of the value of commercial timber or other forest products directly into habitat stewardship projects, accomplishing more on the ground for wildlife than is possible with congressionally appropriated funds alone.  In a time of increasing budget constraints, stewardship contracting allows habitat projects to proceed that may otherwise not have been possible.  The Elk Foundation can now act as a contractor or subcontractor, partnering with federal agencies, industries, and other contractors to help meet habitat objectives on public lands.

More than 80 percent of wild elk spend all or part of the year on federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and BLM.  To ensure a future for elk and other wildlife it is necessary to both secure and restore healthy, sustainable habitat. The Elk Foundation is partnering with state and federal land management agencies, private industries, and local communities to improve elk habitat on these lands.  As public authorities vary by state, the Elk Foundation’s Habitat Stewardship Services program is designed to work within established authorities as defined by each state. 

Private Lands
Like all natural resources, private lands need proper management to be healthy and productive. Through the Habitat Stewardship Services program, the Elk Foundation will help landowners develop, implement, and monitor land management plans that sustain the long-term productivity of range and forest resources, address landowner plans for their property, and benefit wildlife.  The Elk Foundation ensures the right professionals are involved to carry out timber harvesting, weed treatment, prescribed fire, and other management projects.

Participating landowners can enjoy the many benefits derived from well-managed land while knowing future generations will appreciate a legacy built on a stewardship ethic.

Types of Projects
The Elk Foundation works with the nation’s foremost elk biologists, foresters, researchers and land managers to make certain its projects are efficient, cost-effective, and successful. Habitat enhancements projects can include:

• timber harvesting and thinning
• tree and shrub planting
• forage seeding of roadways, meadows, log landings, and reclamation areas
• aspen restoration
• creation and long-term maintenance of forage openings within forested areas
• prescribed burning to stimulate forage production
• noxious weed treatments
• grassland and sagebrush vegetation restoration
• riparian restoration
• wildlife water source development

The Elk Foundation believes there is enormous opportunity to combine projects such as hazardous fuels reduction with range, forest, and riparian improvements that enhance habitat for elk and other wildlife. If you have a suitable project and are interested in hiring the Elk Foundation as a contractor to meet your land management needs, please contact us for more information.  The Elk Foundation is a recognized leader in habitat enhancement and management.  The Habitat Stewardship Services Program is an excellent choice to accomplish your stewardship goals.