Home » News » $24.5 million deal to protect 20,000-acre Sonoma County forest – February 26, 2013, Santa Rosa Press Democrat

$24.5 million deal to protect 20,000-acre Sonoma County forest – February 26, 2013, Santa Rosa Press Democrat

by Brett Wilkison
February 26, 2013
Santa Rosa Press Democrat

[excerpt:]
A national conservation group has reached an agreement to buy nearly 20,000 acres of timberland in northwestern Sonoma County, a move that derails the long-disputed, forest-to-vineyards conversion project pushed by CalPERS, the giant state workers pension fund.

The $24.5 million purchase of the so-called Preservation Ranch, to be completed by the end of May, is led by The Conservation Fund, based in Virginia. It would contribute up to $6 million toward the purchase.

Funding partners include the California Coastal Conservancy, which could contribute up to $10 million, Sonoma County’s Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, which could add up to $4 million to the deal, and the Sonoma Land Trust.

. . .

 

To read the entire article,
visit the Press Democrat:
$24.5 million deal to protect
20,000-acre Sonoma County forest
.

For additional information, see:

“Preservation” Ranch
Evans Ridge vineyard development on 'Preservation' Ranch
The so-called “Preservation” Ranch is a 19,300 acre development in the heart of the Gualala River watershed. Premier Pacific Vineyards plans to destroy and fragment coastal redwood forest to plant grapes on the ridgetops – and call that “preservation.”