California Rangeland Trust partners with Madera County rancher to permanently protect 1,700-acre property

(MADERA COUNTY, CALIF.) – September 12, 2024

The California Rangeland Trust is proud to announce the permanent conservation of the Rosasco Ranch in Madera County, Calif. Through a dedicated partnership with the owner and manager of the ranch, Allan Rosasco, the 1,700-acre property was placed under a conservation easement to ensure that the land will remain a working cattle ranch forever.

California’s farm and ranch lands are being lost at an alarming rate. According to the American Farmland Trust, from 2001 to 2016, 465,900 acres of agricultural land in California were developed or repurposed. If current trends persist, the State stands to lose an additional 797,000 acres of productive land by 2040—a loss exceeding the size of Yosemite National Park.

The Rosascos have been ranching in Madera County for over 100 years, with properties in the towns of Oakhurst and Raymond. Rosasco has witnessed firsthand the rapid conversion of surrounding agricultural land into subdivisions and other developments. Determined to prevent his ranch from facing the same fate, he pursued a conservation easement with the Rangeland Trust.

Rosasco stated, “This land will never be paved over for a parking lot or built on to be someone’s house. It is going to remain a working cattle ranch forever, just as it always has been.”

To facilitate the conservation easement, the Rangeland Trust collaborated with key funding partners. Financial support was provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC), in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC). SALC is a component of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative using Cap-and-Trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

“The Natural Resources Conservation Service continually supports ways to apply conservation to our land,” stated California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. “It is an honor for NRCS California to be part of the permanent conservation of the Rosasco Ranch in Madera County, California.”

Rosasco Ranch, located in the Fresno River Watershed, features a diverse landscape, including Live Oak Woodland, Blue Oak Woodland, Chamise Chaparral, and Foothill Pine Woodland, serving as important habitats for numerous plant and wildlife species. Rosasco employs rotational grazing practices through his cow/calf operation to maintain the biodiversity and health of the land. Rosasco plans to reinvest the easement funds into a nearby ranch to expand his operation.

The conservation of Rosasco Ranch not only protects vital ecosystems but also contributes to the broader community’s well-being. By maintaining the land’s productivity, the ranch’s conservation ensures the continued availability of local food sources, supports clean air and water, protects the Fresno River Watershed, and preserves the scenic beauty of the region. This holistic approach to land management exemplifies the synergy between agricultural practices and environmental stewardship, creating a model for sustainable ranching that benefits both people and nature.

California Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar emphasized, “We lose so much more than a piece of ground when farm and ranch land is developed. When rangeland is lost, we, as Californians, lose access to local food, clean air, fresh water, and beautiful views. That’s why the Rangeland Trust partners with dedicated ranchers like Allan Rosasco— to keep them on the land for the benefit of people, livestock, and wildlife alike.”