Ranchers who spend their lives caring for rangeland are a resource as valuable as watersheds and viewsheds. Elizabeth Marshall calls it
“heritageshed”: the invisible but tangible sacrifice of generational ranchers who see stewardship as a calling beyond financial return.
Earth Day falls on April 22nd, but for the ranching community, every day is Earth Day.
This could not ring truer for Darrel and Karen Sweet, owners of the Sweet Ranch in Alameda County and proud California Rangeland Trust ranching partners. “As you enter our property, we have a sign that says, ‘Every day is Earth Day on our ranch,'” Darrel explained. The couple received the sign from friends and fellow California Rangeland Trust ranching partners, Tim and Melinda Koopmann from the Koopmann Ranch, many years ago. Today, the Sweets remain committed to carrying out this mantra both in their words and actions every day.
In 2020, the California Rangeland Trust conserved 87 acres of open space in West Roseville, known as the Creekview Northern Preserve. The Rangeland Trust partnered with the land development and homebuilding company Anthem United who funded the conservation easement on the property to mitigate potential environmental impacts associated with the development of the 500-acre Winding Creek Community, a new residential area being constructed nearby.
The Flying M Ranch extends over 24 square miles of the Merced Grasslands, one of the largest and most intact vernal pool-grasslands habitats in the world. In 2021, 845 acres of the ranch were conserved through a conservation agreement in partnership with the Rangeland Trust. The conserved acreage joins an additional 5,000 acres previously conserved by the Myers family in partnership with the Nature Conservancy.
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA) Ranch is a working cattle ranch that contains the perfect habitat for endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox, burrowing owl, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and many others. The property has been owned by ACWMA since the early 1990’s.
In 2018, California Rangeland Trust partnered with Golden Hills Ecological Preserve to develop a mitigation agreement on the ranch
The Sweet Ranch is a working cattle ranch nestled on low, rolling hills coated in nutrient-rich grasses that are perfect for cattle grazing. The ranch has been owned by the Sweet family since 1915 when they purchased it from Sanford University. Several generations later, the property is still home to the Sweet family, their cattle operation, sheep, and grain crops. The ranch provides critical habitat for federally listed species including the San Joaquin kit fox, California red-legged frog, and tiger salamander, as well as the American badger and the burrowing owl. To mitigate potential negative impacts to these important species, the Sweet family worked with California Rangeland Trust to not only conserve the ranch, but to enhance its wildlife habitat.
(HOLLISTER) – Today, the California Rangeland Trust announced the permanent conservation of the 548-acre Roadrunner Ranch in San Benito County.
When utility companies perform construction projects or maintenance activities, they often need to mitigate for potential disturbances or losses to threatened or endangered species habitat by conserving a similar landscape in the surrounding area. Developed in accordance with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the conservation agreement on the Roadrunner Ranch is designed to help offset potential habitat impacts in 34 Northern California counties as part of Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Multiple Region Habitat Conservation Plan.
(ROSEVILLE, CA) – Today, the California Rangeland Trust announced the permanent conservation of 87 acres of open space in West Roseville, known as the Creekview Northern Preserve. The Rangeland Trust partnered with the land development and homebuilding company Anthem United who funded the conservation easement on the property to mitigate potential environmental impacts associated with the development of the 500-acre Winding Creek Community, a new residential area being constructed nearby.
Today, the California Rangeland Trust announced the permanent conservation of 117 acres of the Mendenhall Ranch on top of Palomar Mountain in San Diego, County. The conservation agreement, held by the Rangeland Trust, will prevent the sale of smaller parcels from the ranch and protect the grassy mountain meadow valley at the top of the Palomar Mountain.
We are thrilled to announce the release of new ecosystem services research showing the long-term benefits of land conservation. The study has found that working lands conserved by the Rangeland Trust provides $1 billion in environmental benefits annually, and Rangeland Trust conservation easements return $3.47 for every dollar invested.
California Rangeland Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 31-1631453) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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