Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Stewardship: the organization stewards its 5,040 acres of fee title conservation lands by implementing habitat protection and restoration projects, and undertakes species monitoring, grazing, forest management, research, and education activities. Annual management plans guide the work to support the conservation values of the lands.the organization holds 43 conservation easements protecting 3,899 acres. Using a baseline report as a benchmark, the organization monitors the values of the easements and ensures compliance with the permanent protection goals.

Public access/education: the organization builds and maintains trails and provides access on select fee title lands or easements to provide recreational and environmental education opportunities to the public. The organization currently provides public access on six properties, maintains 29 miles of trails, and is developing a community harvest amenity on its 500-acre farm.

Acquisition: guided by its strategic plan and conservation blueprint, the organization works with willing landowners to conserve Land with significant conservation value in perpetuity. The organization protects working lands (farms, forests, and grazing lands) and natural lands. The organization acquires Land through fee simple purchase (which may include a bargain sale), donation or purchase of development rights through a conservation easement.