Welsch ranch in southern Alberta now protected from development

The Nature Conservancy of Canada and ranchers Reno and Corine Welsch have reached a deal to protect the family's 1,200- hectare property in the Porcupine Hills from future development.

The Welsch family signed a conservation agreement that will see theproperty protected in perpetuity from any subdivision or cultivation.The property lies on the southern flank of the Porcupine Hills, just north of Pincher Creek.

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The ranchoverlooks the Old Man River Valley and the front ranges of the Rockies and is under significant pressure for development, according to Larry Simpson with the Nature Conservancy.

"This area is important for water, surface water, important ground water, important for wildlife, for agriculture, for its aesthetic and its inspirational value. You know I'm sure if you drove down Highway 22 south of Longview, you'd probably still remember the drive for its beauty," he said.

The Nature Conservancy says the property is a wildlife corridor for bears and cougars and also serves as habitat for endangered limber pine and ferruginous hawks, whichare threatened in Alberta.

In a statement, rancher Reno Welsch explained why he moved to protect the land.

"This conservation agreement gives me the freedom to run the ranch the way I always wanted it run, and to protect it for future generations and not necessarily just my future generations. It also protects the land for agricultural use at a time where agricultural land, especially good ranch land, is getting harder and harder to find."

The Nature Conservancy has helped protect about 40,000hectares in that area, including the Waldron and King Ranch conservation areas.

Funding for the project came from the provincial and federal governments.

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