March 2017 California Cattleman

RANGELAND TRUST TALK COWBOY CONSERVATIONISTS ATTEND POETRY GATHERING TO HELP FIND PRODUCER LED CONSERVATION SOLUTIOns from California Rangeland Trust Director of Communications Jessica Kong Partnership of Rangeland Trusts (PORT) leaders Producers led the way to combine environmental convened at the 33rd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering conservation goals with ranchers’ interests and best in Elko, Nev., on Feb. 4, 2017 – the world renowned practices. First on the scene was CCALT. Montana Land festival that honors the arts, culture, and traditions of the Reliance – which became affiliated with the state livestock rural West. They were invited to form a panel discussing association when PORT was formed – California Rangeland “Keeping Working Lands in Working Hands” for the good Trust, and the others followed suit to help ranchers place of land and people. conservation easements on their land. An agricultural According to a recent study, 2.5 million acres of farm conservation easement is a restriction placed on a piece of and ranch land in America are lost every year. Between 1982 property to protect its resources in perpetuity where the and 2012, 44 million acres were developed. The description landowner either sells or donates the development rights. of the panel in the event program stated, “While people The subsequent valuation of the land reduces its taxable are aware of this substantial and continual diminishment value. In addition, funded easements provide cash flow of America’s agricultural land base, what most Americans and donated easements can offer significant tax deductions. are unaware of is the response by ranchers and farmers to Other conservation easement types include a bargain sale preserve these private lands.” Enter PORT. – where part of the easement value is funded and part is PORT is an association of locally based, agriculturally donated – and mitigation easements which are funded by oriented land conservation organizations established to developers or mitigating groups to offset expected adverse leverage resources to enhance the voluntary conservation impacts of development. and stewardship of America’s ranchlands. These seven Conservation easements are held by a qualified statewide land trusts – California Rangeland Trust, nonprofit or government agency which must monitor the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT), easement annually to ensure the terms of the easement are Montana Land Reliance, Northwest Rangeland Trust, Texas upheld. Ranchers choose to partner with PORT members Agricultural Land Trust, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, and because these cattlemen’s land trusts are run by ranchers Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust – have had remarkable who understand the business. impact. Each is associated with their respective state Bo Alley, Executive Director of Wyoming Stock livestock organizations and together they hold more than Growers Land Trust, explained how energy development 1,283 conservation easements that ensure over 2.2 million and agriculture go hand in hand in his talk: Energy acres throughout the western states will stay ranchland Development, Water Rights and Conservation Easements. forever.

Erik Glenn, executive director of CCALT, and Rick Knight, professor of wildlife conservation at Colorado State University and CCALT board member, gave a brief introduction to PORT and went on to serve as the panel moderators.

Nita Vail, chief executive officer of California Rangeland Trust, opened her ‘Conservation Easements 101’ presentation with a short video – the Cowboy Conservationists. Supplying local food, bolstering rural economies, and preserving our Western heritage are the obvious benefits of ranching.

What many people don’t know is that ranching is also critical to endangered species habitat, urban water supply, and carbon sequestration.

Latest research shows that 75 percent of endangered species habitat is on private land. Many threatened or endangered plant and animal species even require managed livestock grazing to maintain suitable habitat. According to the Rangeland Watersheds program at UC Davis, rangeland watersheds supply 85 percent of California’s drinking (L to R): Dr. Rick Knight, Colorado State University; Bo Alley, water. Close proximity to rangeland is also vital to the Pictured Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust; Nita Vail, California Rangeland bee populations that pollinate California’s crops.

Trust; Erik Glenn, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust 36 California Cattleman March 2017