Over 70 people gathered at the new Casa Blanca Canyon Trailhead of the Arizona Trail on the morning of Nov. 12 to celebrate the permanent protection of 1,200 acres of high value conservation land. Formerly known as Three Canyons Development, the land is now called the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve.
Ron Pulliam, a founder of Wildlife Corridors LLC, who purchased the land, and Borderlands Restoration Network, who manages it, announced the funds are now in hand to pay off the mortgage on the property and secure the last conservation easements. He said an additional 600 acres have also been purchased to extend the protected wildlife corridor.
Kurt Vaughn, Executive Director of Borderlands Restoration Network, talked about the value of the land for conservation, restoration, education, and recreation. Matt Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association, introduced the new section of the Trail that passes through the Preserve. Laura Moser, Cooperative Forestry Program Manager for the US Forest Service and key partner in securing over $1 million in federal funds for the purchase of Preserve lands, discussed the value of the public private partnership.
Pastries were provided by Butter My Biscuit and several walks and tours followed the event.