Yurok Tribe to Regain Ancestral Land in 2026

The California Rangeland Trust has achieved a significant milestone by permanently conserving over 400,000 acres of rangeland, facilitated by partnerships with 95 ranching families. This includes the recent conservation of over 1,500 acres at Willow Creek Ranch, emphasizing the Trust's commitment to protecting natural resources and wildlife habitats while supporting ranching communities. In a separate development, the Yurok Tribe is set to reclaim 125 acres of their ancestral land, 'O Rew', near Redwood National and State Parks in 2026, marking a historic co-management agreement with the National Park Service. This land, purchased by Save the Redwoods League in 2013, will enable the Yurok to implement traditional stewardship practices, including controlled burns, to restore the ecosystem. The return of this land is seen as a step towards healing for the Yurok people, whose ancestral territory was decimated during colonial exploitation. Both initiatives highlight the intersection of environmental conservation and the empowerment of Indigenous communities in California.