In 1843, a Mexican woman fought to preserve this 5,600-acre ranch. Nearly 200 years later, another woman is protecting the California property

Lands can undergo remarkable changes over the years, sometimes becoming almost unrecognisable. But a 5,600-acre ranch in California has remained largely intact through nearly two centuries of political change, development pressures and shifting ownership — with two women from very different eras playing an important role in its story.

Maria Antonia de la Guerra fought to retain the ranch during a turbulent period in California's history in the 1800s. Nearly 180 years later, Pam Doiron made another consequential decision to protect the same land for the future.