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80,000 Acres Protected: Colorado Wilderness Saved Forever
4 Sep
Summary
- An 80,000-acre conservation easement donated in Colorado is the largest ever.
- The Trinchera Ranch is now protected from commercial development.
- The Forbes family's donation ensures the land remains in its natural state.
In a significant conservation achievement, an 80,000-acre area of alpine wilderness in southern Colorado has been permanently shielded from commercial development. This was made possible by a conservation easement donated by the family of the late publishing tycoon Malcolm Forbes. This agreement represents the largest donated conservation easement in Colorado's history.
Managed by Colorado Open Lands, the easement imposes permanent restrictions on subdivision and commercial development across the historic Trinchera Ranch. The protected lands encompass extensive pine forests, mountain peaks, and crucial wildlife habitats within the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. This effort marks the culmination of 35 years of stewardship by the Forbes family, who originally acquired the property in 1969.
The conservation easement legally binds current and future owners, ensuring the mountain landscape remains in its natural state indefinitely. Documents from Colorado Open Lands and the National Park Service underscore the agreement's environmental significance, safeguarding high-altitude areas vital for native elk, black bears, bighorn sheep, and cutthroat trout.
Originally part of the 1841 Sangre de Cristo Land Grant, Trinchera Ranch was purchased by Malcolm Forbes in 1969. After his passing in 1990, his children pursued conservation options to prevent the division of the remaining wilderness. The 80,000-acre easement, donated to Colorado Open Lands, prevents subdivision while permitting traditional farming and forestry activities under strict environmental guidelines.
Environmental advocates and state conservation officials lauded the easement for protecting the San Luis Valley's natural environment, including peaks exceeding 14,000 feet and alpine streams. The conservation plan established by the Forbes family later supported broader environmental protections. In 2007, the Forbes estate sold the entire 171,400-acre property to Louis Bacon, who further expanded conservation efforts, leading to the establishment of the Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area. Today, the entire original estate is protected, forming one of North America's largest connected private conservation areas.
