Land Acknowledgement
The UC Natural Reserve System recognizes that reserves sit on the territory of Native peoples of California, and that these lands were and continue to be of great importance to those peoples. Every member of the NRS community has and continues to benefit from the use and stewardship of these lands. Consistent with our values of community and diversity, we acknowledge with gratitude and make visible the University’s relationship to Native peoples.
Our Mission
The mission of the Natural Reserve System is to contribute to the understanding and wise management of the Earth and its natural systems by supporting university-level teaching, research, and public service at protected natural areas throughout California.
The University Of California Natural Reserve System
The University of California Natural Reserve System (UCNRS) is a network of protected natural areas and field stations throughout California. Its 41 sites encompass 47,000 acres, and additionally provide research and education access to more than a million of acres of public lands. Most major state ecosystems are represented, from coastal tidepools to inland deserts, and lush wetlands to Sierra Nevada forests. Founded in 1965 to provide undisturbed environments for research, education, and public service; the Natural Reserve System contributes to the understanding and wise stewardship of the earth.
UC Santa Cruz now stewards four active NRS reserves, as well as UCSC Campus Natural Reserve and the Santa Cruz Mountains Reserve that are not part of UCNRS. Santa Cruz Natural Reserve’s 6 sites ring the Monterey Bay along the National Marine Sanctuary that extends the entire coastline from the Golden Gate at San Francisco south to Big Sur, between 38 and 36 degrees North latitude along roughly 122 degrees West longitude.The wide range of habitats, from fog-enshrouded redwood forest to maritime chaparral, provide an unparalleled natural laboratory for marine and terrestrial research and serve as study sites for University scientists and students.
The Natural Reserve System is a University-wide program. Each of its sites are managed by one of the nine general UC campuses. The Systemwide Office of the NRS is based at the UC Office of the President. UCNRS is part of the Research and Innovation unit of the division of Academic Affairs. University of California is a Trustee Agency with regard to sites within the Natural Reserve System (California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Section 15386 (d)). As one of only four designated Trustee Agencies, the University has a duty to steward reserves to preserve their long-term integrity on behalf of the people of California. (14 CCR 15386).