|
160 Acres Protected Forever! |
In early May, the Rincon Institute signed an historic agreement with Gene and Marvyl Wendt (Rincon Valley residents) and Pima County. The agreement is a conservation easement that protects 160 acres of the Wendt’s property in the Rincon Mountains.
 The Wendt’s call their sanctuary the Wrong Mountain Wildlife Preserve,
but there is nothing wrong with the spectacular acreage that Gene and
Marvyl decided to protect in perpetuity. The area is home to foxes,
rattlesnakes, hedgehog cacti, gorgeous mesquite, and dozens of bird and
lizard species. The Wendt easement is unique because it is held by the
Rincon Institute with Pima County. That way both the Rincon Institute
and Pima County will be responsible for protecting the pristine area.
The Rincon Institute is a land trust, meaning it can hold conservation
easements for landowners who want to forever protect their land from
development or overuse. The Rincon Institute’s private land protection
efforts as a land trust help protect the natural resources within and
around Saguaro National Park by promoting voluntary conservation of
open space on private lands near the Park and along important riparian
areas and wildlife corridors. We accomplish this by engaging landowners
and challenging them to learn about their conservation options. There
are diverse opportunities and conservation tools that landowners can
utilize to create specific protection plans that protect the fragile
resources of this beautiful area. To learn more, visit the web site at
www.rinconinstitute.org. RI currently holds three conservation
easements. Two of the easements are along Tanque Verde Creek, and the
third easement is comprised of the lands of the Wrong Mountain Wildlife
Preserve near Pistol Hill.
Thanks to Gene and Marvyl Wendt for their selfless foresight!
Photos taken by Gene Wendt on the Wrong Mountain Wildlife Preserve.
|
