Meet the passionate volunteers who help connect people to nature at Oak Glen Preserve—and learn how you can be part of The Wildlands Conservancy’s mission.

Endangered frogs, rare wildflowers, and a fish that raises its own young—click through for the latest on Bluff Lake Reserve’s rewilding efforts.

Long before The Wildlands Conservancy became stewards of the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve, local volunteers were already hard at work. Since 1999, the Fallbrook Trails Council (FTC), now a nonprofit, has played a vital role in protecting and maintaining this beloved river corridor— home to endangered species and 18 miles of scenic trails.

At The Wildlands Conservancy, we believe the best way to protect nature is to ensure people can experience it — with love, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to its long-term care. 

This belief guides everything we do as we work to provide well-managed, free public access to the lands we’ve conserved. That’s why we’re preparing to open four new preserves to the public: Estero Americano Coast Preserve, Eel River Canyon Preserve, Rana Creek Preserve, and Enchanted Rocks Preserve. These extraordinary places — rugged canyons, desert mesas, quiet estuaries, and sublime interior ecosystems — have long been off-limits, but soon they’ll be open to all. As we prepare these landscapes for free access, we’re doing it the right way: with community, care, and stewardship.

Can a songbird tell us if a forest is healthy?
It turns out, it can. Across four preserves in Sonoma County, birdlife is helping conservation scientists track the impacts of forest management designed to build wildfire resilience. The presence, or absence, of certain bird species with specific habitat requirements offers insight into the resilience and biodiversity of these landscapes.

The Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve is one of Southern California’s last untouched ecosystems. Spanning 18 miles of scenic trails, it’s home to nearly 1,000 species of plants and animals, making it an essential part of the South Coast Ecoregion — one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. But despite its beauty, the Preserve faces an urgent threat: invasive species.

As spring breathes new life into the Sonoma Coast, the redwood forests awaken in a truly magical way. These towering trees, bathed in soft sunlight, create an inspiring backdrop for reflection and connection to nature. But redwoods aren’t just awe-inspiring — they’re also vital to one of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems. Continue reading to discover how redwoods support an array of life and help maintain the health of our environment.