California Ecology and Conservation
Spend seven weeks living and studying at UC Nature reserves while gaining field research skills used to study plants, animals, and ecological communities. Taught three times per year, California Ecology and Conservation is open to undergraduates from all general UC campuses. A maximum of 27 students are accepted per term. The course yields a full complement of quarter or semester units.
What we do
UC Nature supports teaching by transforming reserves into outdoor classrooms for hands-on experiences, research by providing protected environments for environmental monitoring, and public service by connecting the community to nature through education and conservation initiatives.
Research
Scientists from around the world conduct field research in the protected landscapes of UC Nature on topics ranging from climate change to endangered species to habitat restoration.
Teaching
Visiting a reserve brings textbook lessons about the natural world to life. Students and teachers flock to reserves from the University of California and institutions around the globe.
Public Service
From hosting school field trips, to organizing scientific lecture series, to welcoming the public for weekend classes, UC Nature reserves benefit California communities.
Our organization
UC Nature is a University-wide program. Each of its reserves is managed by one of the nine general UC campuses. The Systemwide Office of UC Nature is based at the UC Office of the President. UC Nature is part of the Research and Innovation unit of the division of Academic Affairs.
About us
UC Nature is a library of ecosystems throughout California. Most of the state’s major habitat types are represented by its reserves, from coastal tidepools to inland deserts, and lush wetlands to redwood forests. Learn more about us >>
By the numbers
1,400+
Journal articles
2020-2024
2,100+
Species of native plants
Documented across our reserves
42
Natural reserves
All major state ecosystems
80,000+
Visitors each year
Connecting people to nature
50,000
Acres protected
World’s largest university reserve system
50
Miles of protected coastal shoreline
Safeguarding critical habitats
Support
Your support for UC Nature and its programs will help safeguard reserve lands, train future scientists, and serve Californians by protecting the state’s biodiversity.
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