By KRWG News
Silver City – The New Mexico Land Conservancy is protecting more than 1,000 acres on southwestern New Mexico's River Ranch in partnership with the state Forestry Division.
The Silver City Daily Press says the Mimbres River Valley land was put into a conservancy easement.
Landowners Gene and Elizabeth Simon approached the New Mexico Land Conservancy in late 2009.
They say they decided a conservancy easement would protect the land while allowing a future owner to continue ranching.
The conservancy's executive director, Scott Wilber, says the easement ensures the river corridor is protected for wildlife and that easement land will be a buffer to prevent development from encroaching on nearby City of Rocks State Park.
River Ranch straddles Grant and Luna counties and encompasses a three-mile stretch of the Mimbres River.
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Information from: Silver City Daily Press, http://www.scdailypress.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.