SALINAS >> Hundreds of acres of land along Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 is the focus of a permanent protection effort that, if successful, would connect and expand thousands of acres of protected natural areas.

A partnership between the Trust for Public Land and Big Sur Land Trust, along with support from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and the Wildlife Conservation Network, announced the launch of an “ambitious effort to secure permanent protection of Ferrini Ranch, an 866-acre ecological and cultural treasure located along Highway 68 in Monterey County.”

Ferrini Ranch is situated on the western edge of Salinas straddling Toro County Park along Monterey-Salinas Highway between River Road and San Benancio Road.

Trust for Public Land has purchased the property for $14 million and entered into an agreement with Big Sur Land Trust to work together over the next two years. During this time, Trust for Public Land 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.

If the goal to secure permanent protection of Ferrini Ranch is attained, it will connect and expand more than 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.

Ferrini Ranch was a project that was once envisioned as a 900-lot partner to the Toro Park Estates subdivision across the designated “scenic” Highway 68. In 2014, the project was approved by a split Board of Supervisors, after years of community advocacy to preserve it as natural open space, paving the way for a 185-lot development including 168 market-rate homes and 17 moderate-income “workforce” units, along with preservation of more than 700 acres in permanent open space.

But the project had 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, Trust for Public Land and partners took action to acquire the property and secure permanent funding to prevent these irreversible impacts.

“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, Trust for Public Land’s vice president Pacific Region and California State Director, in a press release.”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.”

According to Trust for Public Land, this is a milestone moment in its 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,” said Mark Kelton, on behalf of the landowners, in the release. “We know that the Trust for Public Land and its partner 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.”

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, says Trust for Public Land. 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. “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 in the release. “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.”

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.

Ferrini 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.

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, says Trust for Public Land. 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.