UCLA established the La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science to foster greater interaction between UCLA and agencies responsible for public land conservation in the Santa Monica Mountains including the National Park Service, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and Stunt Ranch Reserve/UC Natural Reserve System. These groups constitute our primary partners; together, we form a team with the long term goal of applying best scientific practices to ensure the environmental well-being of the Santa Monica Mountains and the broader landscape of southern California.

One of our primary collaborative efforts has been to develop a Santa Monica Mountains Cooperative Research Program to identify, prioritize, and coordinate research activities appropriate to address resource, conservation and land management needs in the Santa Monica Mountains and adjacent regions.

National Park Service

The National Park Service manages the largest expanse of mainland Mediterranean ecosystem in the US National Park system – The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMM NRA), providing for a range of scientific, educational, and recreational activities for the surrounding communities and visitors to the area. The La Kretz Field Station, opening in January 2013 on the Rocky Oaks Park property within SMM NRA, is made possible by a unique, long-term cooperative use agreement with the National Park Service. UCLA/La Kretz Center and the NPS also jointly sponsor a growing number of research projects in the Santa Monica Mountains as well as in Southern California, including Channel Islands National Park and Cabrillo National Monument.

California State Parks

California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) is committed to helping preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, as one of the ways it fulfills its mission to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California.  As owner of about 23% of lands within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, CA State Parks participates in its joint management with NPS and MRCA, and is an active collaborator in conservation research.

Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA)

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local agency exercising joint powers authority of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Conejo and Rancho Simi Recreation & Park Districts. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. Among other activities, the MRCA helps facilitate the La Kretz Annual Public Lecture at the King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains each spring.

UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve

The Stunt Ranch Reserve is a 310-acre biological field station located four miles inland on the north central flank of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Cold Creek watershed. Stunt Ranch joined the UC Natural Reserve System in November 1995, becoming the System's 32nd site. The La Kretz Center offers low cost housing to Stunt Ranch researchers at the nearby La Kretz Field Station, in support of their common interest in field-based ecological and conservation science.

Published: Thursday, January 17, 2013