La Selva Uplands

Near the shores of Monterey Bay, the stunning wetlands, rare oak groves, and swaying native grasslands of La Selva uplands are idyllic— but beyond mere beauty, this landscape is vital to the region’s ecological health.

Internationally recognized for its scenery, the area faces serious threats of development, with plans for secondary beach homes and large coastal mansions encroaching on an incredibly biodiverse hotspot. Recognizing this, Trust for Public Land led a coordinated multi-partner effort with the Wildlife Conservation Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC) to preserve the 141-acre La Selva Uplands, ensuring this vital landscape remains permanently protected.

Now managed by the LTSCC, the area preserves critical habitats for plants and wildlife, including the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander. With over a mile of streams, an array of native plants and coastal prairie, this preservation contributes to California’s 30×30 goals by protecting natural ecosystems and enhancing climate resilience. In consultation with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the land has been named weleeli onyenmak, meaning “Salamander Relatives,” honoring the ancestral lands and cultural heritage.

Using already established trails, weleeli onyenmak will serve as a unique location for restoration, education, and interpretive guided opportunities for the public. Students from diverse local communities and the broader Monterey Bay region will have the chance to learn about watersheds and endangered species protection while participating in hands-on nature-based solutions to climate change. Spaces like this inspire future generations to protect our planet, nurturing a deeper connection between people and nature.