A Proposed Vision for a Natural Park

Tejon Ranch should be California’s highest priority for protection of private wildlands.

Wetlands in foreground with riparian forests of willows and cottonwoods giving way to oak woodlands on the hills.
Photo: Andrew M. Harvey © 2003, www.visualjourneys.net

Tricolored blackbird used to be one of the most common colonial nesting birds in California, where 99% of the birds nest. Their numbers have dwindled dramatically because their nesting habitat – wetlands – have been reduced by 90%.
Photo: USFWS – undated.

Tejon offers many unique natural resources: intact wildlands, healthy watersheds, unpolluted streams. Its habitat cradles the California Condor, making that majestic bird’s recovery possible. Its largely roadless, unfragmented lands—a rarity in southern California—serve as wildlife corridors.

California Red-legged frogs – made famous in Mark Twain’s The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is now rare in California.
Photo: Dr. Alan E. Leviton © 1999
California Academy of Sciences

Map of proposed vision for a natural park.
Click for more detail.

In order to maintain these values in the face of California’s rapid development and agricultural conversion, conservationists have initiated a campaign to preserve Tejon as a new national or state park for the protection of precious resources and the enjoyment of people. This campaign focuses on a ranch-wide plan that would allow some development in appropriate places while preserving 246,382 acres of the ranch as Tejon State or National Park. Close proximity to populous southern California means this “park poor” region will gain recreation opportunities and open space. Easy access from the Central Valley, central coast, and deserts will make Tejon Natural Park a destination spot for many Californians and visitors. Please add your voice to the growing number of people calling upon decision makers to protect Tejon forever.

Click here to view a letter sent by six conservation groups, with cumulative memberships totaling over 440,000 Californians, calling on state and federal authorities to preserve Tejon as a huge new state or national park.

Additional information and related resources:

Center for Biological Diversity