Greater_Yellowstone_Coalition
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) is a regional conservation nonprofit organization dedicated to working with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the over 20-million-acre (81,000 km2) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
| Formation | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Type | Conservation 501(c)(3) nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Bozeman, Montana |
Region served | Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem |
Executive Director | Scott Christensen |
| Website | Official website |
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition was founded in 1983. Its core premise is that “an ecosystem will remain healthy and wild only if it is kept whole.”[1] It aimed to protect one of the last largely intact temperate ecosystems in the United States. Its founding president was conservationist Rick Reese.[2]
GYC has advocated for river and waterway protections, defense of grizzly bear populations and the institution of human-bear coexistence policies, and battles against gold mining in the Paradise Valley north of Yellowstone National Park.[3] They have also pushed for improved land use plans and protections for wild trout in the Greater Yellowstone Area.[4]
In addition, the GYC led the fight against the New World gold-silver-copper mine, which was proposed to be sited only about four miles from the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, during the early 1990s.[5]
The organization focuses land around Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, including Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.[2] It covers over 20 million acres[2] (34,000 square miles) with Yellowstone National Park at its center.[6] This area is used recreationally by large numbers of people every year, which “puts strains on its environment, wildlife and infrastructure."[6] The organization seeks to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of the 20-million-acre (81,000 km2) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.[1] It advocates for “conservation, sound science, and protective management.”[7]
The main office of the GYC is based in Bozeman, Montana, and the organization has other offices in Jackson, WY, Cody, WY and Idaho Falls, ID.[1] Its current director is conservationist Scott Christensen.
The Montana State University Library holds the papers of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition from 1984 to 2018.[8]
- “Greater Yellowstone Coalition.” CAKE. Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange Organization, 2020. https://www.cakex.org/community/directory/organizations/greater-yellowstone-coalition.
- Hultman, Heather C. “Biographical Note.” Rick Reese Collection. Montana State University, Special Collections and Archival Informatics, 2019.
- Wright, Michael. “Greater Yellowstone Coalition Director to Step Down.” Bozeman Daily Chronicle, January 22, 2020. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/greater-yellowstone-coalition-director-to-step-down/article_d8c6da61-6ac4-5e7e-94af-647da9fdf017.doc.
- Schwedelson, Paul. “Greater Yellowstone Coalition Names New Executive Director.” Teton Valley News, July 30, 2020.
- SRepanshek, Kurt. “Land Deal Closes The Book On the New World Mine Proposed on Yellowstone National Park's Doorstep.” National Parks Traveler. National Parks Traveler, June 15, 2020. https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2010/06/land-deal-closes-book-new-world-mine-proposed-yellowstone-national-parks-doorstep6045.
- MSU News Service Service. “April Symposium in Bozeman Focuses on Greater Yellowstone Area.” Outdoors. Billings Gazette, March 29, 2018. https://billingsgazette.com/outdoors/april-symposium-in-bozeman-focuses-on-greater-yellowstone-area/article_c1bf8327-1b40-5463-877c-67d79974d589.amp.doc.
- Lawson, Donna. “Greater Yellowstone Coalition.” The Conservation Alliance, 2020. http://www.conservationalliance.com/organizations/greater-yellowstone-coalition/.
- Cantrell, Anne. “MSU Library Acquires Collection of Greater Yellowstone Coalition Materials.” MSU News . Montana State University, September 17, 2019. https://www.montana.edu/news/19026/msu-library-acquires-collection-of-greater-yellowstone-coalition-materials.