Collaborations Protect Wyoming Wildlife Habitat in 2005

Lander, WY—January 11, 2006—The Wyoming Chapter of The Nature Conservancy announced the conservation of 6,864 acres in 2005, bringing the total amount of land protected by the Conservancy in Wyoming to more than 400,000 acres.

Collaborations with private landowners wanting to maintain rich wildlife habitat on their properties steered this past year’s many projects.

"One of the most important things we did in 2005 to conserve wildlife habitat was to help keep ranchers on the land," says Andrea Erickson, Wyoming State Director for The Nature Conservancy. “By working with willing landowners on voluntary land conservation agreements, biologically rich properties have been maintained for both agriculture and wildlife in a ‘win-win-win’ situation”, says Erickson.

Landowners Bob and Kate Lucas joined with The Nature Conservancy and The Jackson Hole Land Trust this past year to transfer the Conservancy’s Ramshorn Ranch outside Dubois to the Lucas family. The collaboration also permanently protects 340 acres of the Lucas Ranch, one of Jackson’s last remaining working ranches and significant habitat for species like bald eagles and trumpeter swans. When asked about his decision to protect his Jackson ranch, Bob Lucas said, “I’ve been blessed by living in Jackson and am determined to do what I can to keep this property as open, rural land.” Lucas plans to move the bulk of his cattle operation to the Dubois property.

Another innovative collaboration between ranchers Tony and Andrea Malmberg, the USDA’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, and The Nature Conservancy placed a conservation easement on almost 5,000 deeded acres of the Malmberg’s Twin Creek Ranch outside Lander. The easement protects the agricultural rights on the property and restricts development.

"We needed to buy out some retiring partners and raise some working capital,” says Tony Malmberg. “By selling the lion’s share of the development rights on the original ranch parcel, we are able to keep development away from almost 5,000 acres—and know it will be kept that way in the future too."

Other conservation agreements in 2005 protected a wide range of Wyoming landscapes. In Johnson County, landowner Lollie Plank donated her third conservation easement to The Nature Conservancy, a parcel located on the east slope of the Bighorn Mountains.

Park County landowner Deidre Pirie conserved approximately 186 acres on Hunter Creek Road, southwest of Cody. In Albany County, Dr. Jean Cotton, a retired veterinarian in Cheyenne, placed 622 acres of her family’s ranch property in a conservation easement. And in Uinta County, 558 acres along the Bear River were conserved for wildlife.

"Each conservation easement completed in 2005 will protect the unique character of the land," says Paula Hunker, Associate State Director for The Nature Conservancy. "Here in Wyoming, preventing the fragmentation of open space and significant habitat is critical to ensuring the continued presence of wildlife—and the quality of our western way of life."