An anonymous donor is putting up $825,000 to preserve some valuable land in southern Utah’s Zion National Park. 

About 30 acres of private land in Zion will be purchased and donated to become part of the national park. The parcel is located at the base of Tabernacle Dome, a red rock formation.

Officials say there are nearly 3,4000 acres of privately owned land within Zion. The private properties, known as inholdings, predate the establishment of the national park. Conservationists fear the private land could be developed into subdivisions. They say a large home was recently built just a few miles from the Tabernacle Dome.

Government funding to buy private land in the national parks system has dried up, so parks and conservation organizations have turned to private donors.