February 23, 2009
Elk Foundation Protects 270 Acres in California’s Redwoods
MISSOULA, Mont.— With a new conservation easement at Bohemian Grove, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has protected a cumulative 270 acres of old-growth redwood forest habitat 70 miles north of San Francisco.
The newly completed easement adds 163 acres to an earlier easement covering 107 acres of lands owned by the Bohemian Club.
By California law, these conservation easements ensure the property will be retained “predominantly in its natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, forested or open-space condition.” The Elk Foundation will provide annual monitoring of easement provisions.
David Allen, RMEF president and CEO, said, “Conservation easements remain in place even if the land should change hands in the future. Bottom line: 270 acres of wildlife habitat in the Russian River watershed will never be disturbed by further subdivision.”
Forests on the remainder of Bohemian Club property will be managed according to a timber plan pending approval by the California Department of Forestry.
The newly protected 163 acres are home to approximately 1,000 old-growth redwood trees. The earlier easement protected lands featuring three species of rare plants: Crystal Springs lessingia, thin-lobed Horkelia and Baker’s manzanita. Black-tailed deer inhabit both areas.
The Elk Foundation has worked collaboratively with private landowners and government agencies to protect more than 370,000 acres through more than 175 conservation easements across the West.