Legally, it means that the 19,000+ acres the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has protected in our county over the last 45 years can only be held by a qualified nonprofit organization with a mission that will maintain the land’s conservation purpose in perpetuity. These precious conservation lands can never be sold or given away, nor can they be developed, paved over, or otherwise used in ways that dismantle their conservation value.
But that’s just half the story. As a nonprofit organization leveraging private property ownership models to protect and hold land in partnership with our community, we serve as a bridge for people to work together to ensure our local wild and working lands thrive. In other words, “protected forever” can only succeed in perpetuity when it’s supported by a community of people who share a vision for the future of our lands.
It’s exciting to see how together we are putting this vision to work! Over the last five years, we have protected unique wildlife habitats, coastal landscapes, and our rich farming and ranching heritage forever. But as the status of protected lands at the federal level is called into question, we ask ourselves what protected forever really means—and if it’s actually possible.
- Protected 5,000 acres for wildlife, built a wildlife crossing at Laurel Curve—and now we have two additional crossings planned for Highway 101 set to break ground in 2030.
- Opened over 16 miles of trail at the Glenwood preserve and San Vicente Redwoods—and now we’re getting ready to break ground this summer on five miles of trail at Watsonville Slough Farm.
- Protected Beach Ranch at the mouth of the Pajaro River to pioneer climate-adaptive strategies like restoring unproductive farmland to wetland habitat to protect prime farmland from flooding and sea level rise—and now we’re to scale this model to three additional properties.
This is what “protected forever” truly means, and this is what Land Trust members are making possible in our county.
The support our community provides ensures this important work doesn’t stop. By becoming a Land Trust member, you’re not only reaffirming your commitment to protecting the land we all love—you’re investing in a living legacy of thriving habitats, resilient farms, and a connected community for generations to come.
When we work together to preserve and care for the exceptional diversity of lands that define and connect us to Santa Cruz County, we ensure our lands are protected forever—and thriving.
Learn more about the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County:
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