MADERA COUNTY — The California Rangeland Trust has permanently protected the 1,700-acre Rosasco Ranch in Madera County, ensuring it will remain a cattle ranch forever. Through a partnership with ranch owner Allan Rosasco, the land was placed under a conservation easement. Therefore, securing it’s agricultural future.
A Family Legacy Preserved
The California Rangeland Trust works to preserve California’s working rangelands and natural ecosystems for future generations.
To begin, the Rosasco family have been ranching in Madera County for over 100 years. The family has properties in both Oakhurst and Raymond. In recent years, Allan Rosasco witnessed the rapid loss of farmland in the area to subdivisions and housing developments. Concerned about the future of his land, Rosasco sought to take action.
Furthermore, Rosasco was determined to prevent his ranch from reaching the same fate as other developed lands. To protect it, he partnered with the California Rangeland Trust, ensuring the land would remain productive.
“This land will never be paved or turned into houses,” Rosasco said. “It’s going to stay a working cattle ranch, just like it always has been.”
California’s Agricultural Land at Risk
Additionally, California’s agricultural land faces a growing threat from rapid development and is disappearing at an alarming rate. Between 2001 and 2016, the state lost nearly 466,000 acres of farmland to development. If current trends persist, experts predict California could lose another 797,000 acres by 2040. To put into perspective, a loss like that would exceed the size of Yosemite National Park.
By protecting ranches like Rosasco’s, the Rangeland Trust is taking critical steps to slow this trend. Moreover, their efforts are helping to preserve California’s farming heritage.
Diverse Habitats & Sustainable Practices
Furthermore, Rosasco Ranch is more than just a cattle operation. It plays an important role in the local ecosystem. The ranch is located in the Fresno River Watershed. Moreover, it includes Live Oak Woodland, Blue Oak Woodland, and other diverse habitats that are home to a variety of plant and wildlife species.
In addition, Rosasco employs rotational grazing practices to maintain the health of the land and promote biodiversity. With the funds from the trust, he plans to expand his operation by reinvesting in nearby ranchland.
Support Key Partners
The California Climate Investments provided key funding to support the conservation of the ranch.
Meanwhile, support from key partners played a crucial role in the success of this conversation effort. Playing vital roles in facilitating the conservation easement are:
In turn, these programs are part of the California Climate Investments initiative. As a result, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable land use.
“It’s an honor to help conserve the Rosasco Ranch,” said Carlos Suarez, California’s State Conversationalist. “This project shows the important role conservation plays in keeping our land health.”
The Broader Impact of Conservation
Apart from this, California Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar emphasized that protecting rangeland goes beyond saving land from development.
“When we lose rangeland, we lose much more than just land. We lose access to local food, clean air, fresh water, and scenic beauty,” Delbar said. “That’s why partnerships like this one with Allan Rosasco are so important.”
A Model for Sustainable Ranching
Finally, the permanent conservation of the Rosasco Ranch protects vital ecosystems, supports local food sources, and preserves the natural beauty of the region. As a result, this partnership serves as a model for sustainable ranching. In addition, it demonstrates how agricultural practices and caring for the environment can come together for the benefit for both people and nature.
By working together, ranchers and conservationists are showing the benefits of protecting working lands. This protection helps everyone, from the local community to the wildlife that depend on the land.
