Destruction and fragmentation of habitat poses a major threat to biodiversity and ecological integrity in the Bay Area. The Moore Foundation and partners such as the Land Trust of Napa County are committed to conserving key sites for biodiversity and wildlife corridors that are needed to ensure that native species thrive.
With support from the foundation, the Land Trust of Napa County initiated strategic conservation transactions, with the goal of being able to form and strengthen several critical wildlife corridors in Napa County. The targeted transactions included 11 potential properties for protection, encompassing over 4,700 acres.
The corridors span across the area in Napa County California and include: a corridor running along the hills surrounding Napa Valley, where the hillsides are critical for wildlife; a corridor surrounding Lake Berryessa, including protected lands that are part of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument; and several shorter corridors that connect these two larger ones. Since initial funding, the Land Trust of Napa County has made significant progress, particularly around Lake Berryessa. Early successes include the acquisition of the Spencer Property, just south of Lake Berryessa and now part of the UC Reserve System, and completion of a conservation easement on Running Deer Ranch, a large property on the east side of Lake Berryessa.
In addition to the acquisitions themselves, stewardship is a key part of conserving the natural values of these properties. The Land Trust of Napa County continues to steward several of the properties over the long term and remain focused on protecting and restoring biological diversity and ecological function. Key goals for stewardship include assessment of natural values and threats from invasive species, restoration of native species and removal of invasives, and exploration of the potential to implement other large-scale invasive species control efforts that will also reduce the risk of severe wildfires.
Continuing efforts to conserve these corridors will be a critical part of keeping wild habitats and ecosystems intact and preserving the unique character of the Bay Area.
Image: St. Helena Fawn Lily, rare native species in Napa County
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