PORT Begins

Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust staff help organize the first meeting of PORT after a variety of organizations and individuals became interested in a "cowboy-conservation organization" that put "people before projects." An alliance of land trusts from across the West who were affiliated with their state livestock associations became the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts. Early members included Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT), California Rangeland Trust (CRT), Montana Land Reliance (MLR), Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WSGLT), Ranchland Trust of Kansas (RTK), and Oregon Rangeland Trust (now Northwest Rangeland Trust).

Northwest Completes First PORT member easement

The Oregon Rangeland Trust completes the Drews Valley easement, the first easement a member organization completed after forming PORT.

One of California's largest conservation agreements

California Rangeland Trust, in partnership with the Hearst Corporation, American Land Conservancy, and the State of California, completes one of the largest land conservation agreements in California history. Through this unprecedented partnership, 80,000 acres of the Hearst Ranch, including 18 miles of scenic coastline, will remain pristine rangeland forever.

Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resource Trust Created

The Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resource Trust (WWNRT) was created by the Wyoming Legislature in 2005. The purpose of the program is to enhance and conserve wildlife habitat and natural resource values throughout the state. WWNRT has been a trusted partner of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust for nearly 20 years.

Texas Agricultural Land Trust Joins the Partnership

Hoy Family Conservation Easement in Kansas

This was RTK’s first conservation easement with the Hoy family near Cassoday.

Wyoming establishes the Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award

The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust, along with Laura Bucholz, established the Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award. This award honors the late Dr. Kurt Bucholz for his productive life dedicated to the conservation of working ranchlands. The recipients of this award exemplify commitment to the conservation of working ranchlands, wildlife habitat and traditional water rights, and are successful stewards of the land, advocating for effective solutions to natural resource issues.

Oregon Rangeland Trust Changes Their Name

The Oregon Rangeland Trust changed their name to the Northwest Rangeland Trust to reflect the expansion of working lands conservation services to include Washington and Idaho.

Enhanced tax incentives passed

Congress made the enhanced tax incentives for qualified farms and ranches permanent after years of work between MLR, PORT, and then-Senator Max Baucus and others. This was an idea hatched on a river in Montana while fly fishing, as many great ideas are. For years the incentives had been treated as “extenders” - some years they were implemented, and others they were not.

Community Conservation Partnership formed in Nebraska

Formation of the Pine Ridge Advisory Committee. Nebraska Land Trust established this community-based approach to land conservation in the region, where local landowners and experts are the drivers of land conservation projects.

One Million Acres Protected

MLR completed a conservation easement with the Rostad family in Central Montana and conserved it’s one millionth acre of working land. This significant milestone was achieved in part because of PORT’s policy work. As of the fall of 2024, MLR has conserved 1.39 Million acres of working lands.

Community Support in California

More than 150 donors rally to help fund conservation of the Rock Front Ranch, signifying the first project funded entirely by contributions from the community.

Nebraska Land Trust Joins PORT

Colorado Land Trust Merger

The Yampa Valley Land Trust in Northwest Colorado merged with CCALT in 2019. Conservation in Northwest Colorado has expanded tremendously in the last five years in conjunction with the Yampa Valley Conservation Partnership, a partnership between northwest Colorado landowners and CCALT as a continuation and extension of conservation partnerships this region has built for more than 30 years.

Madison Ranch - Phase 1; Echo, Oregon

3,300 acres on Madison ranch began a process of conserving over 25,000 acres around the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon.

Evaluating Ecosystem Services in California

UC Berkeley scientists find that Rangeland Trust conservation easements return $3.47 in environmental benefits for every dollar invested and that properties conserved by the Rangeland Trust provide $1.44 billion in ecosystem services annually to the people of California and beyond.

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South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust joins PORT

Meridian Way Conservation Project in Kansas

RTK completed the 10-year Meridian Way conservation project in 2021. This gave RTK the ability to conduct conservation easements with voluntary landowners in the Smoky Hills region. Hiring the organization's first full-time direction helped RTK make significant improvements.

Colorado Policy Updates

CCALT advocated for the passing of Colorado’s Conservation Easement Enhancement and Rural Stimulus Act that went into effect in 2021. This law significantly improved conservation easement tax credit benefits available to landowners. Landowners became eligible to receive up to 90% of the donated value of a conservation easement. This greatly accelerated working lands conservation in Colorado.

Four PORT members Become part of America the Beautiful Grant to Conserve Grasslands

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) awarded a four-year, $4 million America the Beautiful grant to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to support the Playa Lakes Joint Venture partnership – including Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Nebraska Land Trust, New Mexico Land Conservancy, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, and Texas Agricultural Land Trust – in conserving more than 250,000 acres of grassland. The Southern High Plains Grassland Protection, Restoration and Enhancement Project will enable the five land trusts to share best practices across the region and to permanently protect working grasslands for the benefit of wildlife and people.

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Nebraska Increases Pace of Land Conservation

Nebraska Land Trust's average annual rate of land conservation has increased by 712% since its first decade.

South Dakota part of $22.8 million Grant for Working Lands Conservation in Northern Great plains

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