Our Local Treasures
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From towering redwood forest to
coastal prairie to underground caves,
the University of California at Santa Cruz
campus and the surrounding parks
are host to a magnificent diversity
of habitat, flora, and fauna.

However, this diversity is fragile.
Many of these plants and animals
arethreatened by human activities
such as campus growth, recreational use
and land management decisions.
The purpose of this website is to educate the public about these issues and to encourage dialogue about the problems and solutions. If you would like to contribute to or dispute any of this material, please contact us.


Press
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The endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetle was the lead news story in the 6-13 February 2003 issue of the Good Times. Written by Scott Hutchin and photographed by Mark Oatney, the article discusses what has happened with the beetle since it was first brought to the attention of a caring public last year.
  The "Residents of Empire Cave," including some rare species highlighted on this website, were featured in a three page article by Suzanne Ubick in the Fall 2002 issue of California Wild, using photos by Mark Oatney and William Elliot. The feature discussed the findings of recent surveys of the cave by the California Academy of Sciences.

  The Santa Cruz Sentinel featured a story on local wildflowers on Saturday, 20 April 2002. One highlighted area is Mima Meadow, which is located on the UCSC campus. It hosts a variety of common and rare native wildflowers, and is habitat for the federally endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetle. Learn about the treasures in this coastal meadow and how to find them.

  Metro Santa Cruz ran a cover story on the endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetle in the 24-30 April 2002 issue. Sarah Phelan (writer) and Mark Oatney (photographer) explored the many issues challenging the beetle's survival, including mountain biking and land management practices. This article marked the beetle's first exposure in the press.

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All information is presented as accurately as our best knowledge allows. Information was drawn from knowledgable local organizations, naturalists and biologists, and our own personal experiences. To see a partial list of sources, visit the Links page.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are ©1999-2003 Mark Oatney and may not be used or reproduced for any purpose without written permission from Mark Oatney. Website design ©2002-2003 Anya Illes.