South Bay’s Richmond Ranch becomes protected area for wildlife and recreation

Richmond Ranch, located southeast of San Jose California, is a 3,654-acre property located in a key wildlife corridor, supporting multiple endangered and threatened species. Earlier this year, The Conservation Fund was able to purchase the ranch for $16 million, ensuring that the land will be protected going forward. The Moore Foundation provide both a program-related investment (PRI) and assistance in structuring the transaction. 

The purchase was the culmination of a joint effort involving The Conservation Fund, the Moore Foundation, the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, and the Wildlife Conservation Network. The Conservation Fund, which works across the country to provide greater access to nature, strengthen local economies and enhance climate resiliency, is a long-standing Moore Foundation partner. Eventually, public agencies such as Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency and Santa Clara County Parks will take ownership of Richmond Ranch, but The Conservation Fund will manage the property until then.  

Image: The large Richmond Ranch property near San Jose was recently purchased by the Conservation Fund (image credit: Dan Winterson). 

Richmond Ranch has been highly sought after due to its location along Coyote Ridge. Several at-risk species, including the American badger, Tule elk and bobcat call the region home. Folding Richmond Ranch into the network of existing state parks and other protected areas in the vicinity helps wildlife migrate freely between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo range. 

“We all recognize the Coyote Ridge corridor as critical to state-wide wildlife connectivity, and protecting Richmond Ranch represents a major step forward.”

- Dan Winterson, program officer for Bay Area Conservation at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Image: Tule Elk are among the at-risk species that live in the region (image credit: Dan Winterson).

This purchase not only benefits the region’s wildlife, but is also a win for local recreation. Richmond Ranch will be a part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, which provides an avenue for hiking or other outdoor activities and includes protected areas across multiple Bay Area counties. The ranch will help fill in a currently existing gap in the trail.