University of California Natural Reserve System

The University of California Natural Reserve System (UCNRS) is a network of protected areas throughout California. The UCNRS is part of the University of California Office of the President, Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

The UCNRS consists of 39 wildland sites that include over 756,000 acres, making it the largest university-administered reserve system in the world. Most major California ecosystems are represented, from coastal tide pools to Sierra Nevada forests, from deserts to chaparral and oak woodlands.

The reserves also serve as a gateway to more than a million acres of public lands. Founded in 1965 to provide undisturbed environments for research, education, and public service, the Natural Reserve System contributes to the understanding and wise stewardship of the earth.

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