Over 30,000 acres of land preserved in Alberta Conservation agreement

CALGARY – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced the largest land conservation agreement in Alberta’s history on Monday.

Called the ‘Waldron Ranch project,’ the conservation agreement includes 30,535 acres of privately owned property along the Cowboy Trail (Highway 22), south of Longview and northwest of Lethbridge.

The NCC says the project ensures that the land will continue to be preserved for numerous wildlife that depend on it.

Species at risk found in the Waldron Ranch include golden eagle, ferruginous hawk and limber pine.

The NCC hosted a major fundraising campaign to be able to complete the project, and say hundreds of donations poured in, including:

• $12.2 million from the Government of Alberta who contributed through the Alberta Land Stewardship Grant Program.
• $4 million from The Government of Canada who contributed through the Natural Areas Conservation Program
• $1 million from The Calgary Foundation

The total project cost more than $37.5 million.