Bay Area Conservation Groups Protect Largest Expanse of Threatened Redwoods and Wildlife Habitat in Heart of Santa Cruz Mountains
8,532-acre CEMEX Redwoods Property near Davenport Preserved Forever Through Living Landscape Initiative Partnership
December 8, 2011
(Davenport, Calif.)—Bay Area conservation organizations including the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Save the Redwoods League and Sempervirens Fund have joined forces to preserve the largest expanse of unprotected redwoods and wildlife habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The 8,532-acre property, known as CEMEX Redwoods, is the largest private landholding in Santa Cruz County. Blanketed in dense coast redwood and Douglas-fir and sculpted by four creeks flowing to the sea, the land is rich in natural resources, scenic beauty and recreation potential.
The $30 million acquisition of 8,532-acre CEMEX Redwoods is an innovative effort by the Living Landscape Initiative, a collaboration between the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Save the Redwoods League and Sempervirens Fund.
The acquisition will:
- • Prevent subdivision and development of the land.
- • Preserve the largest expanse of unprotected redwoods and wildlife habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
- • Link 26,000 acres of protected open space.
- • Protect old-growth redwoods from logging.
- • Provide a critical wildlife linkage in the face of growing impacts on habitat from climate change.
- • Preserve local water quality.
- • Ensure future public access for recreation.
- • Allow sustainable timber harvest under stricter guidelines than those in place now on the property to maintain the health of the forest while providing tax revenues and jobs for Santa Cruz County.
Major funding provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation via Resources Legacy Fund and private funds raised by the partner organizations. The San Francisco Foundation also provided funding.