Learning the Land

In this episode we have the pleasure of speaking to Wildlife Researcher Ahíga Snyder of Pathways for Wildlife. Ahiga and partner Tanya Diamond , a Wildlife Ecologist, founded Pathways for Wildlife to help land trusts, conservation organizations, and transportation agencies identify important wildlife and habitat linkages for land conservation efforts. Their work involves conducting wildlife connectivity surveys and implementing connectivity designs for wildlife movement within a landscape. These plans include data from field cameras, roadkill surveys, tracking data, GIS habitat suitability modeling, and linkage analyses. Pathways for Wildlife partnered with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Caltrans District 5, the UC Santa Cruz Puma Project, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify the best locations for wildlife crossing structures on Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County. Their research informed the decision to place a wildlife tunnel under the highway at Laurel Curve. The crossing was completed in early 2023 and they are currently using wildlife cameras to monitor wildlife in and around the crossing. Their work is fascinating, critical to reestablishing and preserving wildlife connectivity, and full of surprises. The badger video as promised: https://youtu.be/YboYtCOWblg

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the Land Trust’s conservation priorities – to protect and manage working lands to address climate change and promote environmental sustainability. The vibrant working lands of Santa Cruz County face the dual threats of suburban sprawl and a changing climate, which will increase flooding, drought stress, and fire. Actively managing working lands—especially in flood-prone areas or on steep slopes—can have multiple benefits for surrounding areas. To help us dig into this fascinating topic, we’re talking with Barry Baker, the Land Trust’s Director of Land Protection, about what it means to protect prime farmland and how this work will ultimately contribute to building climate resilience in our region’s forests and rangelands.

Well, hey there, Land Trust listeners! And welcome to today’s episode of Learning the Land. We’re shaking things up and offering this episode both as a podcast AND video – so if you want to enjoy some fun maps, pictures, and footage that go with today’s discussion, head over to our youtube channel. In this episode, we’re focusing on the Land Trust’s initiative to protect biodiversity throughout Santa Cruz County - and specifically, its endangered wildlife protection work. Now, this is not a new focus area for the Land Trust – as you all know! We’ve shared a lot about the Land Trust’s completed wildlife crossing under HWY 17 and work to create a second crossing over HWY 101 to connect long-ranging species like the Santa Cruz Mountain Lion to the Gabilian range in the south…But did you know there is a THIRD wildlife crossing in the works to provide safe passage under HWY 1 for one of Santa Cruz’s most critically endangered species? No? Then take a listen to find out more!

The Land Trust recently launched its new Conservation Roadmap, which outlines our county-wide initiatives for the next five years! The Roadmap is packed with projects that are aimed at addressing Santa Cruz County’s most pressing needs for wildlife, creating access to nature, and mitigating the drastic effects of climate disruption, which has hit our community hard over the last five years. In this episode, we interview Land Trust Executive Director, Sarah Newkirk, to learn more about the Land Trust's new focus areas and exciting undertakings (like TWO wildlife crossings!), which will take place from 2023-2028.

Hey there, Land Trust Listeners! In this extended episode, we join up with Rangeland Scientist Larry Ford, Ph.D. to learn more about the science of the open range - and how grazing can help protect endangered species, create biodiversity, and provide new economic opportunity based in conservation!

Did you know grasslands are as crucial as forests in sequestering carbon? Or that using site-specific native plants in restoration ensures the success of local wildlife? In this episode, we interview Matt Marshall at Central Coast Wilds to learn about the importance of native plants as well as the critical role Central Coast Wilds plays in ecological restoration efforts throughout the Bay Area.

Welcome back, Land Trust Listeners! In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the Land Trust's Wildlife Connectivity work with Project Director Dan Medieros. Together we'll learn about the Land Trust's newest project and site of our second wildlife crossing, Rocks Ranch -particularly why this property is so critical in creating safe passage for the Santa Cruz Mountain Lions to the Gabilan Range.

We're excited to introduce the Land Trust's new Executive Director, Sarah Newkirk! In this episode, guest host and Development and Communications Director, Calah Pasley, interviews the Land Trust's new leader, Sarah Newkirk, about her previous work with The Nature Conservancy, the origins of her love for nature, and her plans for the Land Trust's future. Get ready to be excited for what's coming next for our work in Santa Cruz County!

Thinking about our legacy and what's been meaningful in our lives can take many forms. In this episode, Membership Manager Sarah McMurray interviews Donor Relations Manager Laura Dannehl-Schickman about the Land Trust's legacy program and why people might choose to honor their connection to the land as part of their legacy.

In this two-part series, we interview Land Trust Project Director Dan Medeiros about our wildlife connectivity work in Santa Cruz County. Part 1 delves into our work to create a Highway 17 wildlife tunnel. This 10-year project has pioneered new partnerships with diverse organizations to create safe passage for our county's wildlife - particularly the Santa Cruz Mountain Lion! Together we'll learn about the history of the project, the upcoming groundbreaking, and how this first-of-its-kind project in California is helping pave the way for future crossings.

Well, hey there, Land Trust Listeners! In today's episode, we're trying something new and exploring the history of one of our most beloved properties - Byrne-Milliron Forest. We're joined by former Land Trust Stewardship Manager (and unofficial Byrne historian) Lynn Overtree to learn more about the property's fascinating history. About Byrne-Milliron Forest: This magical, 400-acre wood was one of the Land Trust's first public access properties. Located in Corralitos, the forest is a lovely place to hike and explore, with panoramic views of the Pajaro Valley and Monterey Bay and a 1,000-year-old, 250-foot tall “Great White” redwood. But Byrne is more than a destination - it is also a working forest - an example of how sustainable selective timber harvesting can actually sequester more carbon and generate revenue to help offset the cost of maintaining the property.

Hey there Land Trust listeners! This month’s episode of Learning the Land brings you a special interview with Lauren Snyder, PhD. of the Organic Farming Research Foundation. Together, we’ll explore how preserving open spaces and adopting organic farming practices can help mitigate climate change...and even potentially prevent future pandemics.

In this episode, we conclude our three-part working lands series by interviewing Land Trust Conservation Director Bryan Largay about the Land Trust's efforts to preserve the Pajaro Valley's nutrient-rich ag land. Together, we'll learn about why we must protect this invaluable resource as well as how the Land Trust stewards its own working ranch - Watsonville Slough Farm!

In this episode, we meet again with Natural Resource Manager, Matthew Timmer, to continue our conversation about the Land Trust's working lands. In this conversation we focus on "Conservation Grazing" - a beneficial practice we use to maintain endangered species habitat at the Glenwood Open Space Preserve. But it's not all rolling hills and sunshine - running a small cattle operation is challenging, and Matt tackles the difficulties faced by our local cattle operator partners and what it might mean for us to lose conservation grazing as an option.

In this episode of the Learning the Land podcast, we’re kicking off a three-part mini-series about our working lands! Specifically, how we integrate timber harvesting, cattle grazing, and farming into our land management plans. Working lands can sometimes seem at odds with conservation goals, so we’re interviewing our Natural Resources Manager, Matthew Timmer, to get a better understanding of why it can be beneficial to protect AND work the land. Our focus in this episode is on our working forests to give you an inside look at sustainable timber harvesting and the important economic and stewardship role this practice plays in our work.

CONNECTING WILDLIFE TO NATURE In our first episode of the Learning the Land podcast, we go a little batty for bats while speaking with Bat Ecologist and Acoustics Specialist, Bethany Schulze. We learn more about our local bats and the impact Bethany’s research could have on shaping urban boundaries and wildland conservation policy. Research, like Bethany’s, on local ecosystems and wildlife, is critical to helping pass local and state legislation that protects open spaces and wildlands. We are proud to support her work and learn from her research!