A California newt on the Santa Lucia Preserve. Photo by Andrew Nguyen.
January 31, 2023
By Jamison Watts, Executive Director
Working together in 2022, we made significant strides in each of the four main areas that guide the Conservancy’s work in protecting and stewarding the unique natural, aesthetic, and cultural resources of the Santa Lucia Preserve while promoting environmentally sustainable communities.
We effectively managed fuels and wildfire risk, helping make the Preserve and Carmel Valley communities safer. The Preserve’s high biodiversity was conserved through the monitoring of special-status and keystone species, invasive species removal, conservation grazing, and collaborating with research institutions, universities, and resource agencies. We advanced land stewardship through Openlands Management Plans (OMPs), unique experiential events, engaging and informative media, and complimentary technical assistance. Last but not least, we inspired the next generation of land stewards through our environmental education program, serving more than 3,000 students in Monterey County.
Building on our accomplishments last year, in 2023, we plan to continue building climate resilience, advancing land stewardship in partnership with residents, and serving as a learning laboratory for scientific researchers and schoolchildren.