NEWS: Sempervirens Fund purchases Año Nuevo Vista
The protection of Año Nuevo Vista enhances ecosystem connectivity and wildfire resilience following the 2020 CZU fire.
The view from Año Nuevo Vista looks out over CZU wildfire-scorched redwoods, Año Nuevo State Park lands, to Pigeon Point lighthouse along the Pacific Ocean, near Pescadero, Ca. Photo by Orenda Randuch.
Santa Cruz, Calif. (Sept. 19, 2024) – Today, Sempervirens Fund, California’s first land trust, announced the purchase of Año Nuevo Vista, a 41-acre parcel of land in the Santa Cruz mountains that will play a vital role in connecting protected habitat in Big Basin Redwoods and Skylark Ranch, and could eventually connect to two additional state parks: Año Nuevo and Butano. The strategic land acquisition will enhance ecosystem connectivity and preservation among 62,000 acres of protected land in the region and boost wildfire resilience in an area devastated by the CZU Lightning Complex in 2020.
The Año Nuevo Vista property, situated adjacent to the protected Skylark Ranch and just one parcel away from Big Basin Redwoods State Park to the east, is a vital link in a larger conservation corridor.
“This acquisition not only protects valuable acreage of precious redwood forests, but it also connects with our work at Big Basin and throughout the region to make our forests more connected and resilient,” said Sara Barth, Executive Director of Sempervirens Fund. “We are not stopping here. Our plans include protecting even more acreage that abuts this newly-protected land. By connecting protected lands, we increase resilience against wildfire and support key plant and animal species.”
To support recovery and resilience, Sempervirens will remove standing dead trees, establish control of fast-growing invasive plant species, and create fire breaks to slow the spread of fires. Additionally, the organization will stabilize the fragile soil, repair roads, improve drainage, and reintroduce native plants to support the diverse and ecologically significant habitats of Año Nuevo Vista.
The property features breathtaking ocean views and a rich array of habitats, including redwood forests recovering from wildfire, rare maritime chaparral, and unique Chalks habitat which supports several rare species.
By connecting Año Nuevo Vista with surrounding protected lands, Sempervirens is addressing forest fragmentation, a critical issue that threatens forest health, water quality, and exacerbates wildfire risks.
Earlier this year, Sempervirens acquired two properties adjacent to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, facilitating the establishment of a new park entrance. The organization continues to work closely with California State Parks on the Big Basin Facilities Management Plan as part of Reimagining Big Basin, which will guide the reconstruction of recreational facilities damaged in the 2020 CZU Fire.
Funding for the purchase came from Kevin Kranzusch and Lynne Bosworth, the Lipman Family Foundation, the Midgley Foundation, Carol Provan and Ralph Eschenbach, and many other individual donors making contributions ranging from $5 to $250,000, all adding up to meet the need.