On Monday, the Edmonton institution located in the northeastern end of Edmonton, Alberta, announced a partnership with Western Sky Land Trust and provincial government to secure about 5,000 hectares in rangeland. Western Sky Land Trust is a conservation organization that works to protect habitats and watersheds for education purpose.

According to reports, Western Sky has given a $3.8 million endowment for the ranch. The reports further stated that the massive Mattheis Ranch near Duchess will encourage the environmental and economic sustainability of the province’s dwindling rangelands.

Edwin and Ruth Mattheis had donated the ranch to the Rangeland Research Institute of University of Alberta. They had operated the ranch for more than 30 years. As per the reports, the endowment will be used for education purposes.

Dr. Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, said that the ranch will be preserved forever and there will be no development on the land in future.

According to him, the land will be kept as a working ranch. About 50 students will work on the ranch over the summer. Kyle Fawcett, Alberta Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said the easement is a tool that will be used to preserve valuable land. Conservation easements are very important stewardship tools that would be helpful in protecting Alberta’s natural landscapes, as per Fawcett.

Fawcett said, “I am pleased that our government can support the work being undertaken by the University of Alberta and Western Sky Land Trust to ensure that the Mattheis Ranch remains an important research centre for generations to come”.

As per the reports, the land includes wetlands, streams and a river valley. Adding to that, there are more than 30 species that are listed as threatened or endangered. Native grasslands have declined across the Prairie Provinces.