Go Wild for the Peninsula Press Release:

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Announces

“Go Wild for the Peninsula:” $30 Million Campaign to Create 96-Acre Coastal Wildlife Corridor and Restore the Natural Lands of the Peninsula

$19.7 million in public funds awarded, including U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service $12.6 million grant – the largest award in the nation in the past year

Palos Verdes Peninsula (Embargoed until Friday, Aug 26, 2022) – The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy announced today the $30 million “Go Wild for the Peninsula” campaign, to fund the creation and restoration of a 96-acre coastal wildlife corridor that connects coastal land to the contiguous Palos Verdes Nature Preserve above. The announcement was made on the site overlooking Rancho Palos Verdes’ beautiful coastline with CA Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, City of RPV Mayor David Bradley, Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District representative, and other local government and community officials. The Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office Assistant Field Supervisor and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Regional Manager were present to celebrate the important occasion.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to protect and restore undeveloped coastal California land on the peninsula,” said Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Executive Director Adrienne Mohan. “Precious coastal natural lands have all but disappeared beneath bulldozers and concrete, but this campaign, Go Wild for the Peninsula, will benefit our communities, support threatened and endangered species, reduce fire risk, and contribute to California’s 30×30 goal of conserving 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.”

The US Fish & Wildlife Service awarded the largest grant in the nation last year of $12.6 million from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. This award associated with the Rancho Palos Verdes Natural Communities Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan demonstrates the national importance of the lands and ecosystems of drought tolerant and fire-resistant plants that support the endangered, threatened, and sensitive species in habitat managed by the Land Conservancy. 

CA Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi announced an award from CA Department of Fish and Wildlife and CA Wildlife Conservation Board, adding $4.8 million in matching funds towards the wildlife corridor.   Assemblymember Muratsuchi said, “I am gratified to see how this project is helping to make the goals of the state’s 30×30 initiative a reality. The partnership between nonprofits, local government, and resource agencies are all working together to achieve environmental wins that will benefit everyone.”  

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has contributed $1.3 million and the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District has awarded the Land Conservancy a competitive grant for $1 million from Measure A.  To date, $19.7 million in public funds have been raised.

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes will own the property and the Land Conservancy will hold a perpetual conservation easement as Habitat Manager. “For thirty-five years, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and the Land Conservancy have collaborated to save a total of 1,500 acres of land in our city now to be protected forever,” said Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor, David Bradley. “The acquisition of this 96-acre landscape to protect this scenic land and develop a coastal wildlife corridor connecting the coast to preserved land above is a dream fulfilled for the founders of Rancho Palos Verdes and residents throughout the Peninsula. This success is the product of a long and strong partnership between the City and the Land Conservancy.”

The Land Conservancy is the leader in protecting the Peninsula’s historic coastline – conserving natural land with beautiful views for people to enjoy and restoring healthy ecosystems with native plants for beauty and for wildlife. Establishing the wildlife corridor will require extensive habitat restoration and fire risk mitigation work to help an array of endangered, threatened, and sensitive species like the Palos Verdes blue butterfly, the El Segundo blue butterfly, the Monarch butterfly, songbirds such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, and rare local species like the cactus wren, raptors and owls, along with countless other birds and land mammals such as the grey fox. Restoration efforts will include the removal of invasive plant species—through the help of volunteers and goats—and the addition of drought-tolerant native plants local to the area. These plants provide food and habitat for native birds and butterflies connecting the coast and the land above in a wildlife corridor.

“Since 1988, working closely with local and state governments and with generous support from volunteers and donors, the Land Conservancy has now protected more than 1700 acres on the Palos Verdes Peninsula which includes the new 96-acre wildlife corridor in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, the White Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro, and the George F Canyon Preserve and Chandler Preserve in Rolling Hill Estates,” said Land Conservancy Founder and Board Member Bill Ailor.”We urge residents throughout the Peninsula and South Bay to join us and contribute to this extraordinary vision of a Wildlife Corridor and help us carry it over the finish line.”

“We have a historic opportunity in this journey across generations to achieve the Land Conservancy’s vision of a restored natural environment where visitors may enjoy the peaceful solitude and health benefits of communing with nature, where children and adults can learn about the natural environment, and where native plants and animals can thrive,” said Rob Kautz, President of the Board of the Land Conservancy.  “We’re well on our way to our $30 million goal and we invite community members and businesses to Go Wild for the Peninsula and contribute to help us restore the natural environment of this iconic coastline.”

Please join us and “Go Wild for the Peninsula” at:  GOWILDPV.ORG

Please join us for a Media Announcement

Friday, August 26th

Time:  11 AM

Location:   Catalina View Gardens, 6001 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Click here to RSVP

Click here for Media Kit (Available 8/15/2022

For questions, please contact Louise Olfarnes (310) 626-7863

For assistance Day of Event, please contact: Susan Wilcox (310) 308-0334