MONTEREY >> A project of the Big Sur Land Trust and the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation will be receiving a $69,493 grant from the California Council of Land Trusts to help in its efforts to conserve and protect an area with significant attributes.

Earlier this year, the Big Sur Land Trust acquired the 84-acre Hiss Parcel, a seemingly nondescript piece of land off Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 near the Monterey Regional Airport that holds important ecosystems and tribal cultural resources.

On Monday, the California Council of Land Trusts announced it has awarded nearly $2 million in funding to 23 organizations, including the BSLT/OCEN project, as part of the Project Advancement Grants for projects that advance California’s goals described in Pathways to 30×30 and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy.

“We’re very grateful to them for developing this program,” said Big Sur Land Trust Vice President of Conservation Rachel Saunders. “Funding came from the Wildlife Conservation Board and we’re grateful to the California Council of Land Trusts and the Board for supporting this type of work.”

The California Council of Land Trusts says it aims to increase the capacity of land trusts and build the diversity of partners engaged by land trusts through specific support for partnerships with Tribes, Native-led organizations, and through projects benefiting underserved communities.The Hiss Parcel holds cultural values of significant importance to the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation, and the Big Sur Land Trust is committed to a shared goal of eventual ancestral land return.

Big Sur Land Trust is collaborating with the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation on a conservation management and restoration plan for the long-term stewardship of the property.

“The funding will help support the development of the necessary documents and agreements to effectuate that land return and cover the costs associated with the land conveyance,” said Saunders. “Then it will support the development of the land stewardship plan.”

Saunders added most of the funding will go to supporting members of the tribes’ time, hire legal review of the documents, consultants for the stewardship plan, support some of Big Sur Land Trust time and tribal training time.

“With this land, my hope is for my people to learn how to protect the earth and to reclaim what was taken from them, their homeland,” said Louise J. Miranda Ramirez, Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation’s Tribal Chairwoman, in a previous report.

Ramirez said her hope is to provide a place for her people to spend as much time together as possible to build back their families, their culture, language, songs and stories.

Conserving this land also preserves a significant portion of the larger Canyon Del Rey watershed and supports rich wetlands, riparian habitat, perennial and annual grasslands, Coast Live Oak woodlands, and small patches of maritime chaparral and Monterey Pine forest, according to the Big Sur Land Trust.

The conservation values of this acquisition are substantial. By preventing potential development, the Big Sur Land Trust says it is protecting important habitats that are part of a valuable wildlife corridor. Deer, coyote, and black bears have been spotted on the land.

The Hiss Parcel project is within a corridor of protected areas on both the north and south side of Highway 68 including the Fort Ord National Monument, the Joyce Stevens Monterey Pine Preserve, Jacks Peak County Park, and Palo Corona Regional Park.

Since the acquisition of the land, the Big Sur Land Trust has been monitoring the property, performing land management and focusing on the conversation with Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation and how to work together, what documents are needed, planning and applying for funding such as the grant from the California Council of Land Trusts.

“Now that we have the money, we can start moving forward,” said Saunders. “It’s a great gift and a blessing at the end of the year.”