The Land Trust shared findings and reported on the success of the our recent prescribed pile burns in Sandhills habitat near Ben Lomond, a project funded by CAL FIRE and developed in partnership with the Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Santa Cruz County.

Local artist Peggy Edwards and her students have graciously allowed the Land Trust to display their artwork at our office, transforming our walls with works of animals native to the sandhills, beautiful landscapes, and blooming flowers.

The digital version of our Fall 2025 Field Guide is now available and includes an update on our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and lots of other news. We'd love for you to share the link with others who may want to learn more about our work.

Local land trusts recently celebrated the enduring protection of wildlife habitat, agricultural and cultural values on key acreage in connectivity corridor near San Juan Batista.

This piece was shared with us by Jeri Ross, a Land Trust member that recently experienced and wrote abaout the Land Trust's 144-acre property known as weelili onyemak. Composed of oak woodland and scrub, this wildlife habitat is part of a landscape-scale conservation plan supporting recovery of the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander. Jeri’s insights echo our own feelings about the preservation of this beautiful property and the wonder, joy, and healing that occurs when we spend time in nature.

A group of dedicated volunteers is keeping the West Glenwood Preserve Nest Box Project alive. They are true conservation champions!

The Watsonville Slough Farm is a unique 500-acre property situated at the confluence of four major freshwater sloughs. This rare setting provides a mix of wetland, riparian, grassland, and oak woodland habitats surrounding extremely productive agricultural land. Visitors learned about the “Community Harvest” initiative, which will feature a new parking area, picnic space, demonstration entryway gardens, and up to five miles of trails through the sloughs, wetlands, and riparian areas. Plans also include boardwalks and wildlife observation platforms.

Acorn Ridge Preserve has been a high priority for conservationists for at least a decade. The Land Trust has acquired the property, and it will be protected in perpetuity for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and other migratory wildlife threatened by habitat fragmentation along the Highway 1 corridor in the La Selva Uplands.

The Diversity Center, Santa Cruz PRIDE, and the Land Trust recently hosted a fun event at one of our newest properties that gave guests a chance to enjoy a beautiful day in nature and build community.