None The Nature Conservancy in California Press Releases Search All Press Releases Misty Herrin Phone: (213) 327-0405 E-mail: mherrin@tnc.org

Statement on Southern California Fires from Ecoregional Director Mark Sanderson

Newport Beach, Calif. — October 24, 2007 — The Nature Conservancy extends our sympathy and support for the people affected by the fires in southern California, especially the firefighters and those among us whose properties have been destroyed or damaged. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered loss and displacement during this time.

The Conservancy has staff members located in San Diego, Orange, Ventura, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties and owns and manages thousands of acres in these areas. Thankfully all of our staff are safe and our offices are not at risk, but some of our properties are in vulnerable locations. The situation is changing rapidly and it is difficult to gather and confirm information.

As of Wednesday morning, reports indicate that the Ramona Grasslands project area has burned; the total number of acres has not been confirmed. Portions of the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve, which the Conservancy helped establish and then managed for 15 years, have burned and the fire is still active, threatening the Reserve and surrounding communities.

A western portion of the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve in the San Diego backcountry has burned and the eastern portion may now be at risk along with the Volcan Mountain Preserve and surrounding conservation lands. Another Conservancy priority area, the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, is at serious risk; reports indicate that sections are currently on fire.

While current attention is rightfully focused on the immediate toll on our communities who are suffering, the ecological damage has yet to be assessed, and we know it will be extensive. As best we can, the Conservancy will monitor the impacts to the biological resources affected by the fires. In the meantime, our thoughts and hopes continue to go out to those in need.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 1.2 million acres of land and 3.8 million acres of ocean in California. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.