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The Wildlife Trust Fund is looking for support to complete this project!

Edmonton, AB - The Golden Ranches, located 27 km east of Edmonton represents an unprecedented conservation project within the province of Alberta. With seven partners involved, the conservation of the first 136.5-acre parcel of the 1500-acre property is the result of a team-oriented mindset for conservation in Alberta.

This section of land is the first portion of the ranch to be conserved, with the ultimate goal being all 1500 acres. The current owners (who purchased Golden Ranches in the early 1950’s) are passionate about conservation and would like to see the entire ranch conserved over time. When the partners acquire the proper funding, the owners will allow the ranch to be purchased piece by piece.

This first 136.5-acre parcel was conserved by the partnership consisting of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), Alberta Fish and Game Association (AFGA), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Strathcona County, the Edmonton and Area Land Trust (EALT) and the Beaver Hills Initiative. By working together, these organizations are applying the art and science of conservation and environmental stewardship to care for the property into the future.

The Golden Ranches is located within the Cooking Lake Moraine Natural Area – a mosaic of dry mixedwood forest, grassland, and wetland habitats. The ‘knob and kettle’ topography supports a high diversity of vegetation, waterfowl, mammals and birds and also functions as an extensive groundwater recharge area. The Cooking Lake Moraine Natural Area contains Cooking, Hastings and Ministik Lakes and which provide excellent staging areas for globally significant concentrations of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds in the spring. The area also provides habitat for the Piping Plover, a shorebird listed as endangered in Canada.

The entire Golden Ranches project provides more than eight kilometres of shoreline and important wetland habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and mammals. The diversified landscape favours an abundance of wildlife such as Mule Deer, Moose, Red-tailed Hawk and numerous species of songbirds and small mammals.

Not only does Golden Ranches create habitat for plants and animals, but it is a key section of land to provide an ecological linkage to nearby Elk Island National Park, Blackfoot Grazing Reserve, and Ministik Lake Grazing Reserve.
Bob Demulder, Regional Vice President, Nature Conservancy of Canada – Alberta Region said, “The Golden Ranches project is not only a celebration for NCC and our partners in this project, but for all Canadians. By partnering with landowners and other organizations we can truly make an impact in conserving the ecologically significant areas of our province.”

The conservation efforts of all organizations in the Cooking Lake Moraine Natural Area will focus on achieving maximum benefit for wildlife movement and conserving the land that Alberta’s species depend on. The 136.5 acres within the Golden Ranches represents an important advancement towards broader conservation initiatives in the Cooking Lake Moraine Natural Area and in Alberta.

All of the partner organizations are continuing in their efforts to fundraise for the Golden Ranches project. AFGA is still looking for support from members, clubs and zones. If you feel you could make a donation to this important project please contact central office at 780-437-2342.