Audubon Canyon Ranch, a leader in conservation science, habitat protection and restoration, and hands-on environmental education programs has signed a collaborative agreement with Jim and Shirley Modini to acquire the 1,725-acre Modini Ranch property through a planned giving arrangement. The agreement preserves an exquisite wilderness area and doubles the acreage of ACR’s nature sanctuaries.
Located in Sonoma County’s Mayacamas Mountains near Healdsburg, the property will be called the Modini Ingalls Ecological Preserve upon acquisition. ACR will conduct conservation-based scientific research and identify habitat protection opportunities, in keeping with ACR’s mission to preserve the land as a sanctuary for native plants and animals.
“Over the years it’s been important to Shirley and me to protect the natural habitat without too much human activity on our ranch so the plants and animals here can continue to thrive,” said Jim Modini. “We have put our trust in Audubon Canyon Ranch to help protect this land that we love and the wildlife that call it home. We believe in ACR’s proven track record of habitat protection and their first-class research programs. We’re confident ACR’s work will help to preserve our ranch for all the native plants and animals, and also contribute research that will help protect other wild lands and wildlife.”
The property, which has been in the Modini Ingalls family since 1867, is spread across a remote and scenic landscape with a rich blend of undisturbed native habitats, including oak woodlands, pine forests, perennial grasslands, chaparral, serpentine outcrops, riparian forests and wild streams. It is home to abundant and diverse wildlife, including deer, black bears, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes and nesting golden eagles.
In 2000, the Modinis entered into a “Forever Wild” Conservation Easement agreement with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD) on the property. The district’s Forever Wild Conservation Easement provides the first layer of protection for the land and prevents any inappropriate future development of the Modini Ranch. ACR will work closely with the open space district to achieve their common goals of land protection and restoration.
“We are proud and grateful the Modinis have selected Audubon Canyon Ranch as their partner in the preservation of their pristine property,” said Bryant Hichwa, president of ACR’s Board of Directors. “The trust the Modinis have placed in ACR underscores our strength as an organization and our expertise in ensuring our lands are managed successfully preserving the natural habitat as sanctuaries.”
ACR programs are made possible thanks to the contribution of thousands of hours of volunteer service, and donations from caring individuals, foundations and businesses. For more information, call 415.868.9244, e-mail acr@egret.org or visit www.egret.org.
