STORIES FROM THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY
The Hidden Impact of Invasive Species at Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve
The Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve is one of Southern California’s last untouched ecosystems. Spanning 18 miles of scenic trails, it’s home to nearly 1,000 species of plants and animals, making it an essential part of the South Coast Ecoregion — one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. But despite its beauty, the Preserve faces an urgent threat: invasive species.
Redwoods in Spring: Guardians of a Thriving Ecosystem
As spring breathes new life into the Sonoma Coast, the redwood forests awaken in a truly magical way. These towering trees, bathed in soft sunlight, create an inspiring backdrop for reflection and connection to nature. But redwoods aren’t just awe-inspiring — they’re also vital to one of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems. Continue reading to discover how redwoods support an array of life and help maintain the health of our environment.
Gratitude for the Wild: Reflections from The Wildlands Conservancy Team
As we celebrate the season of gratitude, we at The Wildlands Conservancy wanted to take a moment to reflect on the things that inspire our work and fill us with appreciation every day — nature, biodiversity, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the Earth.
Rewilding: A Pathway to Restoring Balance and Biodiversity
As we face the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, the concept of rewilding has emerged as a beacon of hope. Rewilding is a conservation strategy which involves restoring natural processes and reintroducing native species to their original habitats — it’s a transformative movement aimed at healing our planet. One of The Wildlands Conservancy’s most inspiring rewilding stories is the reintroduction of tule elk at Wind Wolves Preserve.
Northern Spotted Owl Surveying at Jenner Headlands Preserve
The federally threatened Northern Spotted Owl is an ‘indicator species’ meaning it can provide a greater picture of the health of these old growth forests. As part of restoration forestry efforts carried out by Wildlands staff and volunteers, The Wildlands Conservancy works to conserve and improve habitat conditions for rare, threatened and endangered species, protect water resources and water quality, and to manage wildfire resiliency at Jenner Headlands Preserve. In doing so, Wildlands staff routinely surveys the Preserve for Northern Spotted Owl activity to inform these efforts.