Bay Area Conservation Groups Join Forces to Protect Redwoods and Habitat

January 2012

Hundreds of majestic redwoods will remain for years to come, thanks to a coalition of conservation groups, funders, and The San Francisco Foundation. Through the Living Landscape Initiative, the organizations purchased the largest expanse of old-growth redwoods and wildlife habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains, preserving the precious land and natural resources for future generations.

In 2011, five conservation groups launched the Living Landscape Initiative to protect 80,000 acres of land in and around Silicon Valley over the next 20 years. The purchase of the 8,532 acres known as Cemex Redwoods (named after the former cement plant property owner) is the Initiative’s first major project. The Cemex Redwoods had been unprotected and threatened by possible development and logging. The Initiative’s $30 million deal preserves the forest of redwoods and Douglas firs, as well as dozens of endangered plant and animal species, four creeks, and 70 miles of unpaved roads.

This innovative effort comes at a time when global warming is putting habitats at risk and parks throughout the state are closing due to budget cuts. “The preservation of these magnificent redwoods enhance our region’s natural environment, and will help combat climate change,” says Francesca Vietor, TSFF’s program officer for the environment. The $150,000 that the Foundation contributed to the initiative came from the Evelyn Tilden Mohrhardt Trust, a fund dedicated to conservation.

Now that the Living Landscape Initiative has acquired the property, it will turn to the second phase of the project, which is to permanently protect the redwoods and preserve the creek for public access and recreation. In a third phase, the initiative partners hope to sell the property to a private owner who agrees to maintain the forest, and also help provide both tax revenues and local jobs.

The five conservation groups that launched the initiative include Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, The Nature Conservancy, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Save the Redwoods League, and Sempervirens Fund. In addition to The San Francisco Foundation the funders are the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation through the Resources Legacy Fund.