Wildlife Habitat and Open Space

West Marin's climate and grasslands have helped agriculture flourish here since 1850. Today, agriculture is still the largest private land use, employing 1,400 people and generating almost $53 million in annual revenues. Dairies provide 20% of the Bay Area's milk. Meat, shellfish, and organic crops are produced for regional markets.

With neighboring state and federal parklands, agricultural open spaces comprise a greenbelt providing watershed protection and habitat for some of the greatest concentrations of birds, plants, and wildlife anywhere in the world.

Studies done by Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) researchers have cataloged over 430 species of birds (about 45% of the bird species in North America) in the area. Nearly 50,000 shorebirds winter in the Tomales and Bodega Bay watersheds.

Plant habitats in Marin County include coastal strand, freshwater marsh, coastal brackish marsh, northern vernal pool, grassland/coastal terrace prairie, northern coastal scrub, and riparian areas. Although livestock influenced the alteration of California's native grasslands, they are now essential to maintaining species diversity in this altered system that includes many aggressive, highly competitive non-natives.

If you value this land and Marin's rural heritage, if you share our belief that the preservation of family farms and agricultrual lands for local food production, open space, and wildlife habitat benefits all of us, you can play a vital role in safeguarding these irreplaceable resources. Please tour this website or call us at 415-663-1158 for more information.

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