STORIES FROM THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY
Ancestral Lands Returned to the Esselen Tribe
We’re proud to announce a meaningful milestone: 1,720 acres of ancestral land along Tularcitos Creek have been returned to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. This deeply meaningful return reflects our commitment to true conservation through restoring land to its original stewards. With support from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and State Coastal Conservancy, this ecologically and culturally significant landscape will now be stewarded by the Esselen Tribe using traditional knowledge and practices that honor both their heritage and the natural world.
Partners in Preservation: The Fallbrook Trails Council
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.
Wildlands Works in Partnership with Local Community in Kern County
The Wildlands Conservancy is excited to continue our partnerships with two local organizations in Kern County — the Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation and Kern Family Health Care — to advance a shared vision in providing benefits to local communities while conserving wildlands.