Welcome to The California Rangeland Trust

Throughout our history, The Rangeland Trust has been comprised of dedicated men and women who each hold an important role in their respect for the conservation of rangeland through private stewardship. Without the friends who are involved with CRT as donors, ranchers and volunteers, we could not continue to make the strides forward in our efforts to increase the number of ranch projects under easement.

The partnerships formed at CRT are grounded by an underlying trust that each individual who has a relationship with us is committed to preserve the integrity of natural rangeland and establish a lasting protection for its natural habitat through conservation easements.

Each person has their own personal story to share as a friend to CRT. Here are the stories of a few individuals who represent the heart of our organization and portray the core values of the Rangeland Trust.

Featured Supporters of the Rangeland Trust

Jim and Norma Sinton are the third generation of cattle ranchers on the same land in San Luis Obispo County. They have seen the steady intrusion of development, both suburban and ranchette, causing the loss of habitat and the diminution of the ranching industry and heritage. The Sinton's have become enthusiastic supporters of the California Rangeland Trust, hoping that some of their neighbors will be able to remain in business by selling their development rights, rather than selling out.

"There haven't been a lot of things that ranchers could do to hang on to their places. The cattle business has been fairly marginal most of my life and only the good, careful operators endure. The Rangeland Trust is a new way for ranchers to survive, and for ranches to remain forever,"states Jim.

Conservation easements are multifaceted real estate transactions.The Rangeland Trust must not only determine the needs and wishes of the ranching family seeking an easement, but resolve any title problems, including fractured mineral rights and loan subordinations, conduct Phase I environmental studies, determine the costs of perpetual monitoring requirements, and prepare escrow instructions and baseline conditions reports. After the easement is completed, the Rangeland Trust develops detailed monitoring protocols so that both the landowner and the people who monitor the land know exactly what is expected of them. Each of these tasks require a professional staff that can conduct these jobs thoroughly, but efficiently.

Because of the support of families like the Sinton's, the Rangeland Trust is able to provide those professional services needed to complete these complex transactions. As a result, we will continue to be able to save ranches and ranchers, and the wildlife and habitat dependent on them.