Protecting What Matters Most

The Waldron Ranch stands as proof that conservation and community can thrive side by side

The Waldron Ranch is more than land

It is one of the last strongholds of Canada’s native grasslands, a vital corridor for wildlife, and a critical source of clean water for communities downstream. These eastern slopes are among the most ecologically significant regions in the country.

To safeguard this landscape for generations to come, the Waldron Grazing Co-operative partnered with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to establish a conservation easement—today the largest in Alberta history. This agreement ensures over 30,000 acres will remain wild and undeveloped, protected from subdivision, cultivation, and development.

A Historic Agreement

On April 3, 2013, the NCC and the Waldron Grazing Co-operative formalized a groundbreaking conservation easement agreement, marking a turning point in Alberta ranching history. The $37.5 million easement project secured 30,535 acres of privately owned native grassland. Funding was provided by the Government of Alberta, the Government of Canada, private donors, and the Co-op itself.

The agreement allows ranching activities to continue while legally protecting the land from future development. This innovative model ensures environmental protection without compromising the livelihood and purpose of the co-op's shareholders.

Ecological Significance

The Waldron lands straddle the Montane Natural Subregion and the Foothills Fescue Natural Subregion, home to rough fescue grasslands that provide essential services: water filtration, carbon storage, soil protection, and forage for both wild and domestic animals.

↗ The area is a biodiversity hotspot. Forests of Douglas-fir, Lodgepole Pine, and aspen woodlands support wildlife such as:

  • Elk

  • Grizzly and black bears

  • Moose

  • White-tailed deer

  • Bald and golden eagles

  • Wild turkeys

↗ Species at risk observed here include

  • Ferruginous hawk

  • Limber pine

The property is located in the headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River basin, with creeks and rivers like the Oldman River running through, making it essential for water supply and quality downstream.

Supporters of the Waldron Conservation Project

The conservation effort wouldn’t have been possible without the support of many individuals and organizations:

Visionaries ($500,000 +)

  • Waldron Grazing Co-operative

  • Government of Alberta (Alberta Land Stewardship Grant Program)

  • Government of Canada (Natural Areas Conservation Program)

  • The Calgary Foundation

Founders ($250,000 – $499,999)

  • Werklund Foundation

Trailblazers ($100,000 – $249,999)

  • TransCanada Corporation

  • Dale Huntingford and Virginia Dobson

  • Gerald A. Cooper Key Foundation

  • Soderglen Ranch

  • Ron and Jan Brenneman

  • Hal Kvisle

  • The Riddell Family

Looking to the Future

With the largest remaining block of deeded land along Alberta’s eastern slopes now under protection, the conservation easement provides a model for how sustainable ranching and environmental stewardship can coexist. Grazing will continue, and so will the story of this land—as a place of biodiversity, resilience, and shared responsibility.