Pepperwood Foundation

Research, Citizen Science, and Conservation: Pepperwood is a permanently protected 3,117 acre nature preserve located in Sonoma County. The preserve serves as a field site for cutting-edge university research and leads ground-based habitat and watershed restoration programs in concert with dedicated citizen scientists. We systematically monitor weather, water, and the health of local plant and animal populations and pursue on-site restoration aimed at increasing the health and resilience of the many species that call this region home. These applied research and conservation projects serve as learning models for land and water managers throughout the Bay Area and beyond. In 2016, our science programs were honored by inclusion in a new White House climate adaptation initiative and by a National Science Foundation biological field station award.

Environmental Education and Outreach: Pepperwood's 3,117 acre nature preserve serves over 10,000 visitors annually via a comprehensive environmental education program for adults, youth, and families in partnership with local school districts and the Santa Rosa Junior College. We ignite a passion for conservation at every educational level, teach our citizens how to better steward our wild lands, and inspire an increasingly diverse population to join the professional conservation community. We strengthen the eco-literacy of our community as a foundation for conservation action. In 2016, our elementary education program was awarded certification as an official Sonoma County "Upstream Investments" portfolio selection and we tripled the number of conservation science internships for Santa Rosa Junior College students.