Save Mount Diablo congratulates UC Santa Cruz on the creation of the Strathearn Ranch Natural Reserve, a stunning 2,400-acre property just outside Hollister in San Benito County. The ranch is now part of the UC Natural Reserve System.
This former cattle ranch, rich with oak savannas and woodlands, sycamore woodlands, chaparral, and grasslands, will serve as an invaluable resource for research, education, and conservation.
As a conservation organization dedicated to protecting the Diablo Range‘s wild lands, we celebrate this step forward in preserving the region’s biodiversity and natural beauty.
Highlighting the significance of this newly protected reserve, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive shared, “I was fortunate to have had an early preview of the property and to have seen first-hand the beauty of the landscape and the vast research and educational opportunities it offers.”
The reserve’s diverse habitats make it a prime location for advancing conservation science and education.
The new reserve will offer unique opportunities for ecological research, including studies on the impacts of climate change on diverse plant communities.
“The Strathearn Ranch Natural Reserve provides exciting new opportunities for research critical to the state,” said Don Croll, faculty director of the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserve System.
Its volcanic geology and location near the San Andreas Fault also make it a valuable site for studying earth sciences. The property’s century-long history as a working ranch opens additional avenues for research on grazing impacts and land restoration.
Save Mount Diablo’s map of parks and open space in San Benito County.
Education will be a cornerstone of the reserve’s mission. The reserve will serve as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for students across multiple disciplines.
Undergraduate and graduate students will have the chance to study ecology, geology, environmental science, and more through immersive, hands-on field courses.
Gage Dayton, director of the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves, explained, “Through introductory courses, we can bring students studying literature, astronomy, evolutionary biology—whatever—to a part of California they don’t get to see every day.
“By observing nature and walking through the scientific method, students gain critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.”
Strathearn Ranch will also foster important collaborations with local communities, including the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, whose ancestral lands include the area.
These partnerships will offer opportunities for shared stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge to guide conservation practices.
“We’ll be able to use the reserve for research, conservation, training our future leaders, working with tribal and community partners, and giving our students and community the experience of being in nature in a hands-on way,” Dayton emphasized.
The San Benito River. Photo by Scott Hein
At Save Mount Diablo, we understand the critical importance of conserving vast landscapes like Strathearn Ranch to protect sensitive species and ecosystems.
This reserve represents a significant step forward in safeguarding the natural heritage of San Benito County and beyond in the Diablo Range.
We commend the generosity and vision of the anonymous donor, whose legacy will leave an enduring impact on both education and conservation.
As UC Santa Cruz finalizes the transfer of this extraordinary property, we look forward to seeing the reserve thrive as a center for learning, discovery, and environmental stewardship.
