Published October 1, 2026
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 949 (Becker) into law on September 18, designating the Santa Cruz Mountains as a Resource of Statewide Significance. Midpen and the Sempervirens Fund co-sponsored this legislation with strong support from the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Amah Mutsun Land Trust and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.
This designation formally recognizes the region's cultural, historical and environmental value and highlights how its unique habitats, recreational opportunities and ecological services benefit communities both locally and statewide.
“These open space lands are full of native wildlife and plant species found nowhere else in the world,” said Ana María Ruiz, General Manager for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. “As part of a global biodiversity hotspot, the Santa Cruz Mountains are a vital reservoir of life and land that we have the incredible opportunity to care for, and which in turn cares for us.”
Regional conservation efforts are challenged by increasing pressure from climate change, habitat fragmentation and other challenges. By enshrining the Santa Cruz Mountains in statute as a resource of statewide significance, the California Natural Resources Agency and its boards, departments and conservancies will be better equipped to:
- Protect and restore ecosystems by enhancing natural habitats, watersheds, and forests.
- Expand public access through trail networks and recreational opportunities.
- Foster collaborative stewardship among regional partnerships that protect both natural ecosystems and working lands.
- Partner with local tribes to protect cultural resources, support tribal access for cultural practices and explore co-management opportunities on ancestral lands.
- Support private landowners through technical assistance, incentive programs and conservation easements to build climate resilience on privately-owned land.
SB 949 establishes the framework for interagency coordination, positioning the region for prioritized state resources and competitive eligibility for dedicated conservation funding. By ensuring these mountains receive unified, landscape-level care, the statute confirms that the Santa Cruz Mountains are an essential cornerstone of California’s ecological heritage.