Every landowner contributes to the conservation of The Preserve through conservation easements, known as “Openlands,” which ensure that this magnificent landscape will endure in perpetuity. A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified holder, such as a land trust, whereby certain rights are removed from the property, such as the right to develop, in order […]
Landowners of The Preserve play a vital role in stewarding this land. Each property consists of a building envelope that is set within a protected area known as a conservation easement, or “Openland.” Through conservation easements, the Conservancy and landowners partner to manage the roughly 8,000 acres of The Preserve. Some of The Preserve’s most valuable natural resources are found […]
The Openlands offer Preserve Landowners a unique opportunity to become an active steward of the land in partnership with the Conservancy. Through Openland Stewardship Plans (OSPs), we work with Preserve residents to customize habitat restoration activities that accomplish shared conservation goals. Conservation Easements Each property on the Santa Lucia Preserve contains a conservation easement known as “Openlands” outside of the […]
Conservancy land stewardship on the Preserve is as dynamic as the landscape. We face numerous challenges from invasive weeds and the SOD pathogen, and incorporate defense against proliferation of these threats in our management practices. We further promote our native species with restrictions and approvals of vegetation planted on the Preserve. Our prohibited plant list is a guide to promote […]
Protecting the land is not enough to keep it healthy. Over 18,000 acres of Preserve lands are managed to reduce the threats of exotic plants and animals, climate impacts, loss of keystone species, such as pollinators, and pathogens, such as Sudden Oak Death. To counteract these threats, sustained hands-on habitat management and restoration are essential and the Conservancy’s small, dedicated […]
Managing your property in this protected landscape takes proper planning and care. Activities like mowing, tree pruning, removing invasive plants, and planting natives should be done during the appropriate seasons and should take into consideration the complex life cycles of native plants and wildlife. We have compiled this list of vegetation management guidelines for Preserve landowners to implement in their […]
Openlands + Wildlands The Santa Lucia Preserve protects a rare remnant of California’s natural landscape. Composed of oak woodlands and savanna, undulating grasslands, redwood-lined canyons and trickling tributaries, The Preserve seems untouched by time or development. Conservation of this natural heritage is a shared responsibility between Landowners and the Santa Lucia Conservancy. By design, The Preserve was built to be […]
Our vision for fire and fuels management on The Preserve is one that harmoniously balances the protection of life, property, and biodiversity with long-term ecosystem resilience. Our proactive wildfire resilience strategy includes shaded fuel breaks, prescribed burns, conservation grazing, invasive plant removal, a Preserve-wide fuel management plan, and lot-specific fuel management plans for individual homeowners. Fire Risk on The Preserve […]
Invasive plants threaten The Preserve’s biodiversity and natural beauty. Left unchecked, they can take over a landscape and out-compete native species. Invasive plants are those species that are not native to an ecosystem, which once introduced, cause harm to native plant communities. Topping the Conservancy’s list for priority removal are: French broom (Genista monspessulana), poison hemlock (Conium maculata), invasive thistles […]
Questions About the Conservancy How can I be assured the 18,000 acres will be preserved in perpetuity?Who runs the Conservancy?How is the Conservancy funded?How much public access is there to the private trails? Questions About Land Management What are the Conservancy’s restoration goals? What is the status of the Cattle Grazing Program? How many cows does the Conservancy have?How does […]