In 1988 a group of concerned citizens came together in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana deeply troubled  by  the unsustainable logging that was occurring on the Bitterroot and surrounding national forests.   Clear cutting, terracing and the building of thousands of miles of roads over many decades had taken a catastrophic toll on our public lands and our forests, soils, fisheries, wildlife, and water quality had suffered appalling losses.

This small group of committed people from different walks in life was determined to make a difference and none had any idea that their early achievements would lead to a ground swell of grassroots support among like-minded citizens in the Bitterroot valley and beyond.  The group called themselves Friends of the Bitterroot and they quickly challenged and halted two large timber sales on the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests, by bringing the best available science and our nation's environmental laws in support of their cause. 

For almost three decades, FOB would analyze and comment on hundreds of Forest Service projects, trying to get the agency to comply with environmental law and Forest Service rules and regulations. During that time, FOB brought the tragic era of clearcutting and roadbuilding on the Bitterroot National Forest to an end. But now it is back under new nomenclature. Logging is justified in the name of “healthy forests” and “fire mitigation.” Clearcutting is now under the dubious name of “regeneration.”

Amazingly, a couple of the founding members are still active on our Steering Committee over 3 decades later. Our commitment is still unshakable, and our values never to be compromised, are the sustaining principle of our organization. The fight continues and we are always looking for new, dedicated folks committed to forest protection, clean water, and biodiversity.