John,
What if there were a “magic bullet” that could protect wildlife habitats, promote recreation, and preserve our natural heritage, as well as slow the rate of climate change?
There is.
Working lands — farms, ranches, and woodlands — do all that and more. They also yield both food and timber, safeguard clean water, protect endangered species, sustain local economies, and comprise some of our most beautiful landscapes.
This is why we work so hard to promote working lands. Let me tell you about just two of the working lands projects we’ve been involved in recently.
Cienega Ranch
When Josiah Austin bought the 19,000-acre spread in southern Arizona, it had been damaged by widespread overgrazing. Since then, Austin has optimized herd size and grazing rotation; built berms, dams, and rock walls to capture and store stormwater; and reintroduced wildlife.
These restoration projects are working. A jaguar was recently spotted on the ranch. Jaguars essentially disappeared from the U.S. 50 years ago, so the sighting is a good indicator of an ecosystem in balance — it shows that there are enough deer and other prey to attract the big cat.
We recently helped protect Cienega Ranch, ensuring the land will never be subdivided or developed. The owner also plans to invest profits from the sale of a conservation easement to buy and restore more nearby ranchland.
Fisher's Peak
The community in Trinidad, Colorado, has long wished for access to its main geological wonder, Fisher's Peak. Since the 1980s, the Peak and surrounding area have been privately owned, but now the owner wishes to sell. Working with The Nature Conservancy, we took out $20 million in bridge loans to purchase the land and turn it over to the public.
Fisher’s Peak could serve as a good example of replacing local economies based on resource extraction with economies based on recreation. It would prove that if you have a great landscape and open it to the public, the tourists will come, revitalizing the economy in a way coal mining, fracking, etc., can’t.
But none of that will happen if we don’t raise the money to pay back those loans.
Fisher’s Peak is just one of dozens of projects currently underway at The Trust for Public Land. In cities, towns, rural areas, and wildernesses all across the country, we are building parks and protecting land for people. It’s what we do … but we can’t do it without your help.
John, you are a person who understands just how important public lands and green spaces are. I’m asking you to act on that conviction. Become a member of The Trust for Public Land, and help us save Fisher’s Peak and complete the rest of our park creation and land protection projects all across the country.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Kim Elliot
Director of Membership
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