This is the story of Sharon and Richard Kline, a couple in southern California who became unlikely ranchers by buying an unlikely property. They have worked with California Rangeland Trust to keep the land as rangeland and conserve both habitat and ranching. Conservation easements are controversial and must be considered on a case-by-case basis, but agricultural land trusts have made this option much more palatable for working lands.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

California Rangeland Trust, https://rangelandtrust.org/

Article on the importance of private land to wildlife: https://onland.westernlandowners.org/2023/directors-letter/private-lands-are-a-lifeline-for-wildlife/

TRANSCRIPT available at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-105-richard-and-sharon-kline-conserving-working-lands-california