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A conservation easement donation from a private landowner to the Sempervirens Fund, California’s first land trust, will permanently protect 120 acres of the upper Zayante watershed.
The property includes more than 67 acres of redwood forest, mostly second-growth trees, with remaining old-growth redwood, Douglas fir, oak forest, mixed hardwood, marine chaparral, chamise scrub, and riparian forest. Contains forest.
The upper Zayante River watershed, which ultimately flows into the regionally important San Lorenzo River, is important for steelhead habitat and coho salmon recovery.
The conservation easement gives the owner permanent protection over the land known as “Isabelle Upani” and permanently restricts development, subdivision, and commercial timber harvesting, while also allowing the owner to use the land for low-impact recreational purposes. so you can continue to access and enjoy.
The Sempervirens Fund implements management initiatives to improve the health and resilience of forest habitats. This could include conservation measures such as fuel reduction, waterway restoration, and vegetation management.
“This is an exciting time for conservation in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and we are thrilled to partner with dedicated private conservationists to protect and manage the important sequoia forests of the Upper Zayante Basin,” said Sara Barth, Executive Director of the Sempervirens Fund. I’m very excited about it.” “The Sempervirens Foundation will ensure that this land, rich in natural resources, including redwood forests, and critical habitat for endangered species, is protected and managed for generations to come.”
The land is home to many native animal species, and the land’s upland redwood communities may be home to rare species such as the San Francisco dusky-footed rat, the green woodpecker, and the Santa Cruz black salamander. There is a gender. The property contains dozens of old sequoia trees, mixed with more abundant young secondary forest.
The donated 120-acre easement, valued at just over $680,000, exemplifies a new model between conservation groups and private landowners to protect land from development and address the ongoing climate crisis. It is. These landowner partnerships align with President Joe Biden’s goal of conserving 30% of our lands and waterways by 2030 and Governor Gavin Newsom’s 30X through collaborations centered on conservation, resiliency, and inclusion. Consistent with the 30 Initiative.
Just last year, the Sempervirens Foundation helped the San Francisco Y to permanently protect more than 900 acres, including the largest unprotected old-growth redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains, at Camp Jones Gulch in La Honda. purchased nearly $10 million in conservation easements from .
With this newest 120-acre parcel, the Sempervirens Foundation has protected more than 36,000 acres of land in the Santa Cruz Mountains and currently owns and manages more than 12,000 acres.
“Sequoias sequester more carbon than any other plant species in the world, and conservation partnerships like this are more important than ever as we continue to confront a rapidly changing climate.” he said. “At the Sempervirens Foundation, we stand ready to work with other community organizations, conservation groups, and private landowners to conserve and protect as many acres as possible.”
The landowner will remain anonymous and the exact location of the property will be kept private.
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