Eucalyptus Removal & Native Habitat Restoration
Location: Glen Deven Ranch
Brief Narrative: In the late 1800s, eucalyptus trees were planted at Glen Deven Ranch in Big Sur. These trees are highly flammable. Since they transform local micro habitats, many species which once called the ranch home have been eliminated. In the face of increasing wildfire risk Big Sur Land Trust took action and the removal and restoration of 19-acres near the entrance of the ranch began in 2012.
In 2016, because thousands of eucalyptus trees had been removed from the property, Cal Fire and local agencies were able to use Glen Deven as a staging site to fight the Soberanes Fire.
Today the site is still recovering. Big Sur Land Trust is stewarding the return of native species by planting seedlings and spreading local native seed. So far over 1,000 seedlings have been planted including hundreds of redwoods.
Timeline:
- 2012 Eucalyptus Tree Removal began
- 2015 Redwood seedlings planted
- 2018 Final eucalyptus trees removed
- 2019 Hydroseeding and slope stabilization
- 2021 Native plant seeds sown
Project Partners:
Get Involved: Click here to learn more and volunteer with Big Sur Land Trust.
