The Nature Conservancy in California

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Explore the Preserve

Colorful sand dunes and palm oases make a trip to the Coachella Valley Preserve a unique and exciting experience.

Celebrating 50 Years in the Golden State

2009 marks the Conservancy’s 50th anniversary protecting California. In these 50 years, we’ve safeguarded hundreds of parcels of land and waterways and millions of acres of ocean — natural habitats essential to the survival of all species, including us.
Learn about the California natural habitats you've helped protect.

In 1980 a lizard small enough to fit in the palm of your hand brought the $19 billion Coachella Valley construction boom to a screeching halt.

When the lizard was placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, all development was jeopardized because it might illegally destroy habitat for the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard.

A six-year conflict ensued as environmentalists battled developers over the fragile desert habitat. Finally, the Conservancy was called in to resolve the bitter stalemate, and the result was a remarkable model of cooperation through which endangered species and economic development could co-exist.

Building New Partnerships

The Conservancy proposed creating a nearly 14,000-acre preserve that would provide permanent protection for the little reptile and other desert species, while allowing developers to build elsewhere in the valley.

Dauntingly, the several thousand acres of the proposed preserve were held by dozens of different owners. At this point the Conservancy called for a meeting with everyone involved in the fight — 35 individuals in total — including members of local governments, representatives from state and federal agencies, developers, conservationists, union members and business leaders.

While this may sound like common sense now, this willingness to invite disparate players to the negotiating table was unimaginable at the time.

The Coachella Solution

It was a great experiment in cooperation that produced astonishing results. The creation of the Coachella Valley Preserve proved that through consensus, economic development and species protection can indeed be compatible. The “Coachella solution” pioneered an approach that quickly became a hallmark of the Conservancy and now is in use throughout the country.

From our partnership in the Northern Sierras to our work with the Department of Defense or in the Coachella Valley, the Conservancy has shown time and again that bringing disparate partners to the table, however large that table must be, can lead to remarkable success.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Ian Shive (hiker at the Coachella Valley Preserve); Photo © Ian Shive (Coachella Valley sand dunes).