Protecting California’s Coast and Training the Next Generation of Conservationists

The Conservation Fund and the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have partnered to protect 215 acres of coastal land just north of the UCSC campus — securing a living laboratory for students, scientists, and conservationists in this ecologically rich landscape. 

Bordered by the campus on one side and Wilder Ranch State Park on the other, this newly protected property offers uninterrupted access to a remarkable stretch of California’s north coast. It’s home to rare and federally protected species, including the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle and threatened California red-legged frog, making it a vital site for research and habitat protection. 

Stewarded under UCSC’s Campus Natural Reserves program, the land will become a hub for environmental research, outdoor classrooms, and field internships. The land will offer students, scientists, and conservationists with hands-on opportunities to study climate resilience and species conservation in real time.

“Santa Cruz County is known as a global biodiversity hotspot. This project is another step forward toward protecting the coastal ecosystems that support regional climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and important habitat for rare species like the Ohlone tiger beetle,” says Dan Medeiros, senior field representative for The Conservation Fund. “Through our partnership with UC Santa Cruz, we’re opening new pathways for students to engage in hands-on learning in conservation and agroecology — fields aligned with our mission and essential for the future.”