In 1985, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County was formed when the Santa Ynez Valley Land Trust and Carpinteria Valley Land Trust combined to serve the entire county. Today, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County has helped to preserve nearly 23,000 acres of natural resource and agricultural land, including the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, Sedgwick Reserve, Carpinteria Bluffs, Coronado Butterfly Preserve, Point Sal, Carpinteria Salt Marsh and several ranches on the Gaviota Coast. The Land Trust works to preserve and enhance our county’s natural open spaces and agricultural heritage for present and future generations.
CEC’s mission is to identify, advocate, raise awareness, and develop effective programs to solve the most pressing environmental issues that affect the Santa Barbara region. We are a solutions-based organization, currently focused on moving the Santa Barbara region away from fossil fuels and energy-intensive products.
Our Mission:
To protect the unique natural, scenic, agricultural, recreational, educational and cultural resources of the open space lands of the Gaviota Coast for the benefit of current and future generations.
The Los Padres Sierra Club serves Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in Southern California and includes four geographical groups. The Arguello Group serves northern Santa Barbara County while the Santa Barbara Group serves the South County. Southern Ventura County is served by the Conejo Group while the North County is served by the Ventura Sierra Club.
Los Padres ForestWatch is a community-based nonprofit organization that works to preserve and restore the forests, mountain streams, rolling hills, wetlands, coastal areas, and wildlife of this spectacular area.
Channel Islands Restoration protects rare and endangered plants and animals by restoring habitat in sensitive and unique natural areas on the California Channel Islands and adjacent mainland. We educate a variety of groups about the value of native habitat and how to protect it. We recruit volunteers and identify and develop public and private funding sources for habitat restoration programs. We create collaborative relationships within the environmental community. CIR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Ken Owen, Executive Director (805) 448-5726
Wayne R. Ferren Jr., Principal Ecologist (805) 722-2324
Kevin Thompson, Operations Manager (805) 660-7399
Duke McPherson, Board President (805) 705-9529
Jane O’Dell, Bookkeeper (805) 689-4120
Linda Benedik Volunteer Coordinator (805) 448-6203
The Environmental Defense Center protects and enhances the environment of California’s south central coast through education, advocacy, and legal action.
- responsible trail use, respect, and education of all trail users
- the design and maintenance of environmentally and socially sustainable trails
- provide responsible care for public lands through continued stewardship
Sage trail crew leaders are trained by the US Forest Service to make trail work safety their first priority. Our volunteers are trained in tool safety and sustainable trail work techniques. All Sage work events are reviewed and authorized by the appropriate governmental agency. These agencies include the US Forest Service, Santa Barbara County and the City of Santa Barbara. Our volunteers include hikers, equestrians, trail runners and mountain bikers. Almost all of our trail work is done using hand tools such as Pulaskis, McLeods, hand saws, and brush loppers. Sage has a strict, “no power tools” policy during fire season or whenever conditions pose a risk of fire. Only select Sage volunteers who have received US Forest Service approval in their safe use may use power tools.
1% for the Planet is about coming together, and they believe that forging connections between businesses and nonprofits is a critical aspect of solving the global environmental challenges we face. The nonprofit sector fills a unique and critical role, and the 1% for the Planet model and mission are focused on unleashing the incredible power that is possible when businesses support and engage with these impactful nonprofits.