Audubon California Executive Director Graham Chisholm writes today in the San Francisco Chronicle about the Tejon Ranch Conservation Agreement that set aside for permanent protection up to 240,000 acres of spectacular California wildlands:

For decades, the 270,000-acre Tejon Ranch was California conservationists' Holy Grail - and our greatest worry. Thanks to a landmark conservation agreement between environmental groups and the Tejon Ranch Co., we don't worry as much these days.

Now, an independent conservancy is there performing research and planning conservation. Teenagers from Los Angeles recently joined the many others seeing wonders long reserved for special ranch guests. Thirty-eight miles of the Pacific Crest Trail are being routed through Tejon, and there's talk of a new state park. It could have been very different.

To learn more about the agreement, visit Audubon California's website.