About
UC Santa Cruz Fort Ord Natural Reserve (FONR) hosts an excellent sample of the rare maritime chaparral habitat that is endemic to the Monterey Bay region. For most of the 20th century, reserve land was occupied by the former Fort Ord US Army Base. The ~610 acre reserve now serves the university community and the public as a place for research and education.
Land Acknowledgement
Fort Ord Natural Reserve resides on the indigenous homeland of the Esselen people (also known as Carmeleno, Monterey Band, and Rumsen). The indigenous people of the Central California Coastal area existed peacefully in this region for thousands of years before Spanish Missionaries arrived in the 1760’s. After years of enslavement under the Spanish missionary system the Tribe was forced into exile to avoid violent persecution by settlers and California State sponsored racist policies toward Native Americans.
With ancestral lands ranging from San Francisco Bay to Big Sur and numbering at least 15,000 before European contact, the Ohlone people have been largely written out of historical accounts of California and erroneously recorded as extinct. Today the people are emerging to reclaim their cultural practice, language, and ancestral lands while letting others know of their continued existence. We Are Here – Let Ka Lai
For more information about Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen peoples, visit their official tribal website.
Fort Ord Natural Reserve
Numerous listed plant species live at Fort Ord Natural Reserve (including the federally-endangered and state-threatened Monterey gilia, state-endangered seaside bird’s beak, and the federally threatened Monterey spineflower), along with several listed animal species (including the federally endangered Smith’s blue butterfly). The site also supports a mixture of other habitats: coast live oak, coastal scrub, mixed annual grassland, and native perennial grassland.
The reserve was established because of its unique flora and fauna; and as mitigation for the adjacent UCSC Monterey Bay Education, Science, and Technology Center (MBEST) under the Fort Ord Army Base Closure Habitat Management Plan (HMP). As part of this plan, reserve staff and students restore and protect rare habitats and associated special-status species. Special emphasis is placed on fostering teaching/research opportunities, especially in conservation biology of the HMP species.
Who we are
The people that work and learn at at UCSC Fort Ord Natural Reserve represent communities from across the state, and around the world. We serve students from K-12 schools, community colleges, multiple universities, as well as researchers and graduate students. We also have the pleasure of serving dozens of interns and volunteers each year from UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and other local community colleges and high schools. These students work alongside staff in land stewardship, biological monitoring, education, and research projects; gaining essential natural science skills to help them enter the workforce and pursue academic research careers.
Fort Ord Natural Reserve is staffed by a director who manages research, education, restoration, stewardship, and public service activities on the reserve. In addition, with support from generous donors, UCSC FONR is very fortunate to hire many seasonal, and special project student staff. These opportunities provide valuable experience and income to students, recent graduates, and other members of the research community.
The real VIP’s of our special place are our growing list of volunteers and interns! Please visit our giving page for more information about how you can help. We thank you all for your help in making UCSC FONR an exceptional resource for research, teaching, and public service in the Monterey Bay area!
Contact Reserve Staff
Joe Miller
- Title
- Director – UCSC Fort Ord Natural Reserve, Strathearn Ranch Natural Reserve
- Other Email
Location
Office Location
UCSC Fort Ord Natural Reserve
3180 Imjin Rd Suite 104
Marina CA, 93933
Reserve Location
UCSC FONR is located on 610 acres of the northern extent of former Fort Ord army base, situated in both City of Marina and unincorporated Monterey County near Marina Airport. Access is facilitated through reservations with staff.