This past year, I led community hikes and talks on about a dozen Marin ranches and farms, from Point Reyes to Novato to Tomales. The images from these visits are unforgettable: bright green grass, breathtaking glimpses of Tomales Bay, cows and sheep gently moving in the pastures. The hundreds who joined us for these events expressed a similar appreciation of the beauty of these protected working lands.
But this pastoral landscape is not guaranteed. Across…