About Cottonwood

Our Mission

“Cottonwood is dedicated to protecting the people, forests, water, and wildlife of the American West, and having fun doing it”

Cottonwood is a small organization having a disproportionate impact on the American West.

We are the Greater Yellowstone’s only local, homegrown environmental law center. We have been using the power of the law for more than 10 years to protect millions of acres of land and hundreds of animal species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We believe that conservation is bipartisan. We file strategic lawsuits against both Democrats and Republicans that start out locally but almost invariably have national impacts. We represent our Members and other conservation organizations pro bono.

In addition to the law, we use our hands, public outreach, and partnerships with Government, Native American Tribes, and other conservation organizations to monitor and protect what is important to us all. We bring students and Cottonwood members into the field to learn about our efforts.

Our Vision

Our vision of the future is one in which our grandchildren have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. The future consists of renewable energy, pristine wildlands, and glaciers that are growing again. Future generations will glimpse a wolverine running up the side of a mountain and bison roaming freely.

Protect%2C+Prevent%2C+Build.jpg
Acres Saved.jpg

Join our conservation community. Follow us!

MONTANA’S ANTI-WOLF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA • Currently, there are multiple anti-wolf bills working their way through the Montana House and Senate. Mostly spearheaded by Republican lawmakers Sen. Bob Brown and Rep. Paul Fielder, these bills are
Wildlife Wednesday! • Raven or Crow? Let us know! • Both Ravens and Crows are members of the corvid family and are considered to be among the most intelligent of birds. Corvid Fun Facts: • Scientists compare the intelligence of crows
We don’t know about you all, but we are definitely ready for some Bozeman Spring scenes like this one! • What do you love most about springtime in Montana or wherever in the world this post finds you? • Comment below because we’
Love Kirk Hill and bathing in pristine, old growth Douglas firs as much as our team does? • The Custer-Gallatin Forest Service is planning to log some of the few remaining local patches of old growth forest near Bozeman. We need healthy old grow
•Cottonwood continues modern-day David versus Goliath battle to protect the fabled Gallatin River• • Last week, Cottonwood Environmental, Montana Rivers, and the Gallatin Wildlife Association filed a motion asking the federal court to
Wildlife Wednesday! • For the past five years, Cottonwood has been working to end private domestic sheep grazing on public lands in the Gravelly Mountains in an effort to allow the public, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, and other wildlife to use
Member Mondays! Featuring Clint Nagel, President of the Gallatin Wildlife Association (GWA). • We are so grateful for our close relationship with GWA and have been privileged to partner with them in our vital work of Restoring Bighorn Sheep and
🚨 CALL TO ACTION 🚨 In 2016, Cottonwood won an Endangered Species Act lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court that is now known nationally as the "Cottonwood Decision.” This victory protected over 12 million acres of critical habitat on Nation
Cottonwood is a small team of highly effective conservationists having a disproportionate impact on the American West. • For the past 10 years, we have used the power of the law to protect millions of acres of land and hundreds of animal species