A large chunk of the Irvine Ranch got a environmental honor on Tuesday, as it was designated as the first-ever California Natural Landmark.
Almost 40,000 acres of the 50,000-acre ranch got the designation, during an Earth Day ceremony at Irvine’s Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp.
The designation is the first under a new state program that recognizes public and private stewardship of natural resources for the public benefit in California.
The Irvine Company partly owns the undeveloped land that received the designation, along with the county, the cities of Irvine and Newport Beach, and several state and federal entities.
Irvine Co. Chairman Donald Bren spoke at the event along with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Nature inspires one’s soul and creates a sense of freedom,” Bren said.
The ranch is the largest open urban space in the country, he said. The Irvine Co. has set aside $50 million to protect the land.
It’s the second big environmental honor for the ranch in recent years. In 2006, the land was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the federal government.
