Biodiversity Ranches
The objectives of biodiversity ranches are to protect and restore riparian areas, establish short-term grazing rotation and other conservation practices on Crown range tenures, and to promote scientific research. The primary goal of the biodiversity ranch conservation program is to maintain and restore the grassland ecosystem and associated habitats. These habitats are well maintained through active management and can therefore support a thriving, diverse community of native plant and animal species and provide a stable income for any number of agriculture-based households.
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White Lake Basin Ranch
The White Lake Basin Ranch is a biodiversity ranch owned by The Nature Trust of British Columbia. The lands encompassing the ranch were acquired in 1996 and 1998 and include two previously separate ranches totaling 5,302 hectares.
Many people are unfamiliar with the work of land trusts and conservancies. Most land trusts in BC are focused on the long-term protection of habitats or heritage sites for future generations, thus the words land trust and conservancy are synonymous. Land trusts usually work on lands that are privately held. They are independent charities that work in partnership with landowners, other organizations, governments and business
The cattle are owned and managed by Clifton Ranch, a neighbouring family-based operation. Much of White Lake Basin Ranch is dry grassland and big sagebrush habitat and is home to many species at risk, including the Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow and Badger. The dry coniferous forest is dominated by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, and is home to such species as the Flammulated Owl.
For more information on this and other biodiversity ranches please go to www.naturetrust.bc.ca
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Talking Mountain Ranch (Reynolds Ranch)
Talking Mountain Ranch is a biodiversity ranch that is partly owned by The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC). It is located on the west side of the Fraser River approximately 30 kilometres west of Clinton. The ranch is 30,755 hectares in total where 404 hectares of the property is owned by TLC and the remaining 30,351 hectares is Crown range land that has been secured by a grazing tenure.
The landscape of the ranch contains a high diversity of ecosystems and habitats including: grasslands, riparian zones, wetlands, brush and transitional to sub-alpine forested slopes. It is rare that a single acquisition can contain such diversity of vegetation and landscapes. The backdrop of towering hoodoos, limestone sinkholes and imposing canyons increases the allure of the area. The ranch adjoins the Churn Creek Protected Area at its southern edge.
The Talking Mountain Ranch is range for a large number of mammals including California Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer and Cougars. Reptiles and small mammals rely on the open spaces, soils and insect populations of the grasslands; birds of prey use them as nesting grounds; and ungulates are dependent on these areas for winter forage. Altogether, the Talking Mountain range provides a host of different habitats critical to fish, amphibians and waterfowl.
For more on preserving working ranches, visit the links below.
Working Ranches
Preserving Working Ranches
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