California Rangeland Trust Partners with Calaveras County Ranching Family to Protect Critical Wildlife Habitat

(CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIF.) – March 13, 2025

The California Rangeland Trust is pleased to announce the conservation of the Rana Ranch in Calaveras County, Calif. The project was completed by the Rangeland Trust with funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as well as the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program in collaboration with the California Department of Conservation.

Located in Valley Springs, the Rana Ranch is a working landscape continuum of roughly 660 acres, comprised of a combined 7 parcels pieced together by Roland and the late Franziska Schabram. When the couple first purchased the property in 2002, they started with 110 acres, two cows, and a desire to establish themselves on the land. Over the last 20 years, the Schabrams worked to create a haven for their livestock and the wildlife that call the ranch home, including the Calaveras County-famous California red-legged frog.

Due to its proximity to major highways like CA-4, CA-12, and CA-26, the Valley Springs area has become a “bedroom community” for the nearby cities of Stockton, Modesto, Tracy, and Sacramento, making it a hot spot for developers. In 2019, the Schabrams were offered an opportunity sell a portion of their ranch for a potential neighboring subdivision. They declined the offer but still, they feared disruption to the habitat in the area for the wildlife and livestock that call the area home. Wanting to protect their land far beyond their ownership, the Schabrams approached the California Rangeland Trust to help them conserve their property.

In 2022, the Schabrams collaborated with CalTrans, Calaveras County, and the Rangeland Trust to mitigate potential habitat disturbances resulting from efforts to realign California State Route 4. This 42-acre project led to the construction of a seasonal pond and riparian area, ideal breeding ground for the California red-legged frog, along with a large-scale oak woodland restoration, managed by the owners and monitored by the Rangeland Trust.

The new conservation easement ensures that Rana Ranch, with its rich ecological and agricultural resources, will be permanently protected from development. Additionally, the neighboring Nakagawa Ranch is also permanently protected through the Rangeland Trust. Together, these properties form a contiguous stretch of conserved land that offers vibrant habitat for wildlife and maintains the integrity of this working landscape, ensuring its significant contributions to our ecosystems will continue to thrive.

Roland Schabram stated on behalf of his family: “We celebrate the culmination of a decade-long journey to preserve Rana Ranch in perpetuity—a dream born from my wife Franziska’s unwavering love for this land. Though she is no longer with us, her vision and passion live on in every tree, stream, and meadow we’ve committed to protecting. This conservation easement ensures that Rana Ranch remains untouched by development, a lasting legacy to Franziska’s spirit and our shared dedication to safeguarding the beauty and tranquility of this place for future generations. Franziska, this is for you.”

The Rangeland Trust partnered with key groups to fund the conservation of the Rana Ranch. Funds were made available through the NRCS’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the California Strategic Growth Council’s SALC in collaboration with the California Department of Conservation. SALC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

“The California Natural Resources Conservation Service is thrilled to be part of the team supporting the Schabram family’s dream of an agricultural conservation easement,” said Carlos Suarez, California’s State Conservationist. “Preserving their legacy of managed open space, rangeland and wildlife habitat on Rana Ranch is at the forefront of NRCS’s commitment to conservation.”

This inspiring conservation effort exemplifies the power of collaboration between private landowners, local agencies, and conservation organizations. By working together, the Schabram family and their partners have created a lasting impact that extends beyond the boundaries of the ranch, preserving critical habitat and open space for the benefit of both wildlife and the surrounding community.

Michael Delbar, CEO of the Rangeland Trust, stated, “The conservation of Rana Ranch showcases the profound impact that dedicated partnerships can achieve. By preserving these working landscapes, we are not only safeguarding critical habitats for wildlife but also honoring the deep personal connections families like the Schabrams have to their land. Franziska Schabram’s unwavering love for Rana Ranch inspired this effort, ensuring it will remain untouched by development. This easement stands as a symbol to her vision and to the agricultural heritage and open spaces that benefit all Californians for generations to come.”