A message from CNLM’s Co-Executive Directors
The Center for Natural Lands Management congratulates Ecostudies Institute in expanding their staff and conservation capacity with the addition of four former CNLM employees— Sarah Hamman, Elspeth Hilton Kim, Mason McKinley, and Gary Slater. Ecostudies Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Olympia, Washington that was founded in 2001. Given CNLM’s ongoing perpetual conservation roles in Washington of management of preserves, protection of endangered species, and endowment management; and continuing activities in prairie restoration, native plant production, and conservation land acquisition, we anticipate having many opportunities to interact with these employees-turned-colleagues in the future. We are confident they will continue to build on the important conservation work they conducted while with CNLM.
A message COVID-19 impacts on the organization and the natural resources under our care
The Center for Natural Lands Management is committed to the safety of our staff, volunteers, and others with whom we interact or who visit our preserves.
Like many other land-based conservation practitioners, we are daily revisiting the most appropriate means of protecting and managing our many preserves with their threatened and endangered species, while ensuring we are helping to truncate this pandemic.
Our Preserve management staff are focusing on more office-based conservation activities but are continuing, for now, certain preserve tasks if they are related to public safety and/or protection of the preserves and their sensitive and rare species.
We are still here:
- Our virtual office is well buffered from COVID-19 impacts and remains fully staffed and functional
- Our physical (headquarters) office in Temecula, CA and our office in Olympia, WA are both closed at present but mail is collected regularly and staff remain in their roles, operating from home offices
Status of trails on CNLM Preserves:
- Starting February 9th, the trail on our Dana Point Preserve in the City of Dana Point, California, will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 08:00 am to 12:00 pm. For current trail guidelines and updates please visit the Dana Preserve webpage.
- The CNLM Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve trails are open. The Visitors’ Center, parking lot, restrooms, and water station remain closed.
- Public trails on CNLM preserves in San Diego County are now open, with continuing COVID-19 public health precautions. Trail users should have masks as they are required to be in use if safe social distancing cannot be practiced. To avoid unsafe conditions that may lead to further trail closures, we request that the public only use trails to which they can walk or bike, if possible. That will help to avoid unsafe congregations at trailheads and on trails.
Please contact us (or the Preserve Manager directly – see information on individual preserve webpages on this website) if you observe behaviors or conditions that are concerning. Of course, call law enforcement (9-1-1) immediately if you observe dangerous or emergency situations.