File photo of McIntyre Ranch in southern Alberta. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Nature Conservancy of Canada, Leta Pezderic)

By Joel Mendelson

Nature Conservancy celebrating successful fundraising campaign for McIntyre Ranch

Apr 22, 2024 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A historic ranch near Lethbridge is being put under conservation easements.

Conservation easements are legal mechanisms that protect the natural value of land through a voluntary agreement restricting land use changes in perpetuity.

READ MORE: Two conservation organizations team up to protect 130-year old ranch in Alberta.

According to The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), the McIntyre Ranch is one of the oldest and largest ranching operations in Canada, spanning over 26,000 hectares.

NCC officials say the property features extensive grasslands and wetlands, diverse landforms, remarkable biodiversity, and a history of sustainable land management.

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The organization outlined the significance of the agreement:

• Legacy of stewardship: McIntyre Ranch represents more than a century-long commitment to sustainable range management by multiple generations of landowners.
• Partnership for conservation: This achievement is a result of a partnership between the Thralls (current owners and operators), NCC and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).
• Ecological importance: McIntyre Ranch contains some of Canada’s most significant uninterrupted blocks of rough fescue grasslands and over 1,000 hectares of wetlands. These habitats are home to an abundance of wildlife and support under-recognized ecosystem services, including carbon storage and water filtration.
• Biodiversity and habitat: The property is home to over 150 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Recent wildlife surveys have revealed 27 species of concern living there, ,including ferruginous hawk (threatened), chestnut-collared longspur (threatened) and American badger (special concern).

Tom Lynch-Staunton, regional vice-president of Nature Conservancy of Canada is very pleased with the outcome of the campaign.

“The successful completion of the McIntyre Ranch campaign underscores the power of collaboration and community engagement in conserving Canada’s Prairie grasslands.” He said.

“We hope this significant milestone is just one of many future achievements in our efforts to safeguard one [of] our planet’s most endangered ecosystems.”

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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