Trust for Public Land and Big Sur Land Trust Announce Joint Campaign to Protect Iconic Ferrini Ranch on California’s Central Coast

Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with Big Sur Land Trust, and with generous support from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and the Wildlife Conservation Network, is excited to announce the launch of an ambitious effort to secure permanent protection of Ferrini Ranch [The Ranch], an 866-acre ecological and cultural treasure located along Highway 68 in Monterey County.

If successful, this critical acquisition will connect and expand over 20,000 acres of protected natural areas, including Fort Ord National Monument, enhancing a critical wildlife corridor and habitat crossing, protecting iconic views at the gateway of the Monterey Peninsula, while reducing wildfire risks and safeguarding the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

“This first step in the possible future permanent protection of Ferrini Ranch is an incredible opportunity to preserve an irreplaceable link in California’s Central Coast ecosystem,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, TPL’s Vice President Pacific Region and California State Director. “By safeguarding this land from future development, we are ensuring critical wildlife corridors remain intact, while better addressing urgent environmental challenges like groundwater depletion and wildfire risks affecting so many California communities. Its permanent protection would be a victory for both people and nature.”

Ferrini Ranch, located along Highway 68 on the western edge of Salinas, was approved for the construction of 185 estate homes, even amid years of community advocacy to preserve it as natural open space. The project raised significant concerns about fragmenting a critical wildlife corridor, adding pressure to an already overdrawn aquifer, and increasing wildfire risks. Recognizing these challenges and with the landowners’ willingness to see the property preserved, TPL and partners took action to acquire the property and secure permanent funding to prevent these irreversible impacts. This is a milestone moment in TPL’s Central Coast Climate Conservation initiative, focused on protecting, managing, and restoring the vital natural lands and waters that sustain the region’s economic, social, and ecological health.

“Our family has a long history with this property.  While it had been our intent to develop this into a unique and special neighborhood, we also have a strong affection for natural beauty and we are very happy to find a long-term opportunity to see this special property conserved.   We know that the Trust for Public Land and its partner the Big Sur Land Trust do a wonderful job of taking care of important places and we look forward to their efforts to ensure the community can enjoy and benefit from it in the future,” said Mark Kelton, on behalf of the landowners.

“Big Sur Land Trust has been conserving land in the Sierra de Salinas range for nearly two decades, protecting over 10,000 acres. Ferrini Ranch is a critical piece of this landscape that is beloved by the community,” said Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis, Big Sur Land Trust’s President and CEO. “We are thrilled to work with Trust for Public Land and given the purchase price and the complexity of the project, we knew that a partnership with TPL would increase our chances of success. This approach also allows us more time to raise the funds needed to permanently protect this magnificent property.”

The purchase was made possible by a loan from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County’s Central Coast Climate and Conservation Action Fund, known as the “Strike Fund,” which is focused on bolstering regional climate resiliency. The Strike Fund acts as a revolving loan fund, empowering partners, including TPL, to purchase prioritized lands quickly before they are sold to private developers and allow more time for nonprofits to raise public and private funds to permanently protect critical landscapes. As the loan is repaid, the fund is replenished, multiplying the impact of each gift.

“The generous and forward-thinking donors that started the Strike Fund understand that the priority is to connect wildlife corridors and build climate resilience across local watersheds, mountain ranges, and ecosystems rather than county lines. This regional approach—part of the years long mapping process led by TPL to identify lands prioritized for climate resilience and cultural values—demonstrates the power of a Central Coast strategy to preserve land regionally for future generations. We’re honored to be a part of this important partnership,” said Susan True, CEO of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.

TPL has purchased the property and entered into an agreement with Big Sur Land Trust to work together over the next two years. During this time, TPL, and Big Sur Land Trust will be focused on closing the remaining $15.5 million funding gap needed to finalize the property’s protection, while Big Sur Land Trust manages the property. If successful, ownership is expected to transfer to Big Sur Land Trust within the two-year timeframe.

Big Sur Land Trust’s vision for Ferrini Ranch is to protect and enhance scenic open space and critical wildlife habitat in this multi-benefit landscape that also includes working lands, cultural resources, and educational opportunities. With community and Indigenous partnerships, Big Sur Land Trust will care for the exceptional natural and cultural values of Ferrini Ranch. In addition, the Land Trust is exploring exciting ways to support healthy lands and healthy communities through sustainable agricultural practices.

The Ranch serves as a vital wildlife corridor between the Sierra de Salinas range and Fort Ord National Monument. The Ranch includes lands on both sides of an underpass on Highway 68 over El Toro Creek that provides an existing functional safe passage for wildlife under the busy roadway.

“We have been studying wildlife activity in the Sierra de Salinas since the mid-2000s,” said Rachel Saunders, Big Sur Land Trust’s Vice President of Conservation. “These studies have recorded more than 400 wildlife detections over a one-year period at the Highway 68 undercrossing including species such as bobcats, mountain lions, foxes, American badgers, and Monterey dusky-footed woodrats. Conserving Ferrini Ranch ensures that innumerable wildlife species – each playing a unique role in the web of life – can move more freely across this landscape.”

“This project exemplifies the importance of conserving broad habitat areas and the connectivity between them. This property provides a rare opportunity for wildlife to find safe passage under the highway, serving as a lifeline for many species. It’s heartening to see what can be accomplished with the right partnerships, where foundational data informed the land transaction before it was too late, and ongoing stewardship will support regional ecosystem health,” said Neal Sharma, Senior Manager of Wildlife Conservation Network’s California Wildlife Program.

The property holds exceptional ecological and historical importance, as it lies along an ancient trade route for several indigenous tribes, which was later traversed by Spanish explorers, including the de Anza Expedition. Its protection not only safeguards critical habitats but also honors the cultural heritage of the region. The land itself features a diverse natural landscape, including oak woodlands, native coastal prairie grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and the confluence of Harper and Watson Creeks, forming El Toro Creek. This diverse ecosystem plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting the resilience of the Central Coast’s environmental health.

“The Ferrini Ranch project highlights the incredible power of partnerships in conservation,” said Christy Fischer, a Regional Conservation Director at Trust for Public Land. “We could not have achieved this important milestone without the collaboration of Big Sur Land Trust and the Community Foundation Santa Cruz Country, the generosity of the Kelton Family, and broad community engagement and support for this decades-long effort. It’s a great example of working together to protect irreplaceable lands and build a more resilient future.”

The protection of these lands would connect protected natural areas, linking the 14,000-acre Fort Ord National Monument to the 4,800-acre Toro County Park, the 80-acre Marks Ranch, and natural working lands of the Sierra de Salinas Range to the southwest.

If successful, the permanent conservation of Ferrini Ranch will ensure that the property remains a cornerstone of the Monterey Bay Region’s natural and cultural heritage. By linking Ferrini Ranch to the broader network of protected lands, Trust for Public Land and Big Sur Land Trust, along with their partners, are working to create a legacy of resilience for both nature and the surrounding communities.

“We are grateful to the Trust for Public Land, and especially Christy Fischer, for their partnership in this effort.  This is a wonderful legacy for our family to leave to the people of Monterey County,” Kelton added.

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About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About Big Sur Land Trust

Big Sur Land Trust is a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire love of land across generations, conservation of our unique Monterey County landscapes, and access to outdoor experiences for all. We see a future where natural landscapes, working lands, urban open spaces and healthy communities are cared for by people who share a love of nature and a deep appreciation for the richness of their diverse cultures. Since 1978, our generous supporters, partners, and funders have conserved over 45,000 acres throughout Monterey County. Learn more at www.bigsurlandtrust.org

About Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Since 1982, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has brought together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things. The Community Foundation helps donors and their advisors invest wisely in causes they care about, to provide grants and resources to community organizations, and offer leadership around key local issues. The Foundation manages over $226 million in charitable assets and provides customized giving solutions that have resulted in more than $30 million in grants, scholarships, and low-interest loans in 2023. Thanks to generous donors, over $251 million in local grants and scholarships have been awarded locally since 1982. The Community Foundation seeks to make Santa Cruz County thrive for all who call it home, now and in the future. Learn more at www.cfscc.org.