Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC)
Mendocino Land Trust (MLT) is expanding its conservation work on privately owned farmlands, ranchlands, and working forests in the inland parts of our county with support from the State of California’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) program.
SALC funding allows conservation organizations like MLT to protect agricultural lands from being converted to uses that are more energy intensive, such as urban development. In addition, this funding helps us to preserve open space, support food security, promote biodiversity, and invest in local economic growth in Mendocino County. SALC funding is made available through grants from the California Department of Conservation. Since 2023 MLT has secured two major SALC grants: one to protect the historic James Ranch near Willits and one for developing additional conservation projects on agricultural lands.
Conservation Easements
MLT is using SALC funds to protect working lands by purchasing properties directly as well as by purchasing conservation easements (CEs). A CE is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and MLT to restrict the use of a particular property to protect its conservation values. With a CE, landowners continue to own, occupy, and farm or ranch on their land while preventing future development and subdivision. CEs are legally binding for current and future owners of a property, meaning that they protect the land forever. A CE is an adaptable tool, and it may be tailored for each property based on the common goals of the landowner and the holder of the easement (MLT). For working lands, typically CEs prohibit non-agricultural uses of agricultural land or restrict harvesting and gathering to sustainable levels. Some of our completed agricultural conservation projects include easements on the late Paul Dolan’s Dark Horse Ranch in Ukiah and on the historic Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, home of the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit.
MLT has already conserved thousands of acres of working lands in Mendocino County by purchasing land and CEs, and SALC funding allows us to expand this important work. Conserving additional agricultural land in our area will protect farmland from urban development, support farm workers, promote local food production, and preserve biodiversity, all while addressing climate change by helping to keep carbon stored in the land.
For more information about how you can support our work with the SALC program, contact Matt on our Land Protection team staff page. If you are interested in protecting your own working farm, ranch, or timber lands, please fill out the survey below: