Top: Deer at Little Basin, Photo by Dan Quinn; Bottom: Invasive Species Removal

Caring for the Land

Since our founding in 1900, Sempervirens Fund’s forest stewardship responsibilities have grown dramatically. Today we own 19 properties and one conservation easement totaling approximately 1,926 acres of land in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Now more than ever we depend on funds from private donors and volunteers who give generously of their time to help us care for the land.

Sempervirens Fund owns and cares for redwood forests as an interim step between when we purchase the land from private landowners and when we transfer it to public agencies for permanent protection. During that time, we maintain the forests and often engage in restoration activities to enhance the land’s natural and recreational resources. Where we hold conservation easements, we regularly monitor the property to ensure that the forest and other natural resources are being managed in a manner consistent with the terms of our agreement.

All of the redwood forests we own are within the Santa Cruz Mountains, but each is distinct in its natural character and stewardship needs. For each property and conservation easement in our care, we create a stewardship plan that guides our efforts to monitor, maintain, or enhance the land’s natural and recreational resources. Our stewardship activities include:

Cleaning up: We remove any man-made debris (e.g., abandoned cars or trailers or dilapidated structures) from properties to help bring forests back to health and to prepare properties for transfer to public agencies.
Removing exotic species: With the help of dedicated volunteers, we remove invasive plants to restore the land to a more natural state.

Campfire Circle, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Photo by Katie Buelterman

Reforesting: We plant redwood and other native seedlings to reclaim the ecological value of the forest.
Building trails: We partner with local trail organizations to create or enhance trails on properties to allow for better public access to and enjoyment of the redwood forests.
Monitoring easements: We regularly conduct site visits on properties where we own conservation easements to ensure that the conditions of the forest have not altered and that the terms of the easement are being upheld.
Enhancing public parks: We fund the establishment of interpretive signs and displays and the restoration of educational facilities at public parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains.



Caring for the Land Since our founding in 1900, Sempervirens Fund’s forest stewardship responsibilities have grown dramatically. Today we own 19 properties and one conservation easement totaling approximately 1,926 acres of land in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Now more than ever we depend on funds from private donors and volunteers who give generously of their time to help us care for the land. Sempervirens Fund owns and cares for redwood forests as an interim step between when we purchase the land from private landowners and when we transfer it to public agencies for permanent protection. During that time, we maintain the forests and often engage in restoration activities to enhance the land’s natural and recreational resources. Where we hold conservation easements, we regularly monitor the property to ensure that the forest and other natural resources are being managed in a manner consistent with the terms of our agreement. All of the redwood forests we own are within the Santa Cruz Mountains, but each is distinct in its natural character and stewardship needs. For each property and conservation easement in our care, we create a stewardship plan that guides our efforts to monitor, maintain, or enhance the land’s natural and recreational resources. Our stewardship activities include: Cleaning up: We remove any man-made debris (e.g., abandoned cars or trailers or dilapidated structures) from properties to help bring forests back to health and to prepare properties for transfer to public agencies. Removing exotic species: With the help of dedicated volunteers, we remove invasive plants to restore the land to a more natural state. Reforesting: We plant redwood and other native seedlings to reclaim the ecological value of the forest. Building trails: We partner with local trail organizations to create or enhance trails on properties to allow for better public access to and enjoyment of the redwood forests. Monitoring easements: We regularly conduct site visits on properties where we own conservation easements to ensure that the conditions of the forest have not altered and that the terms of the easement are being upheld. Enhancing public parks: We fund the establishment of interpretive signs and displays and the restoration of educational facilities at public parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains.