Right Column

Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam a purus eget felis commodo ultricies. Nam quis purus. Morbi sodales velit in arcu. Suspendisse potenti. Cras eleifend tortor eu lacus. Ut accumsan malesuada ligula. Donec posuere ornare ipsum. Donec metus tellus, porta vel, volutpat at, eleifend nec, lacus. Aliquam gravida egestas nibh.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Pellentesque est. Praesent adipiscing rhoncus enim. Duis vulputate eros ac tellus. Quisque molestie magna ac orci. Phasellus iaculis euismod erat. Morbi placerat, felis a varius fermentum, lacus orci feugiat velit, vitae vulputate erat est at nibh. Fusce sollicitudin. Etiam nec sem eget lectus egestas mattis. Sed vel ligula. Nunc sed diam id sapien vulputate scelerisque.

California's Ecological Reserves

By Kari Lewis

With its snow-capped mountains, broad river valleys, a magnificent coast line and vast deserts, California is home to the greatest diversity of plant and animal life of any state in North America. Nearly 8,000 varieties of plants, 958 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and a mind-boggling 30,000 insect species live here.

California is also home to 34 million people and the seventh largest economy in the world. California is the largest agricultural producer in the United States, and supports thriving industries in research and technology.

As the most biologically diverse, most productive, and most populous state, California faces unique challenges in the conservation of biological diversity. Agencies, non-profit organizations, and the public work together to conserve California's precious natural heritage.

This work takes a variety of forms, including planning for conservation, responsible land use, and acquisition of habitats for wildlife. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) contributes to conservation, in part, with its protection and stewardship of ecological reserves.

The ecological reserve system, authorized by the California Legislature in 1968, is designed to conserve areas for the protection of rare plants, animals and habitats, and to provide areas for education and scientific research. With the acquisition and designation of Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve in 1968, the DFG began an ecological reserve system which now encompasses 119 properties totaling nearly 129,000 acres.

This system of reserves makes a significant contribution to the conservation of California's biological diversity by protecting important species populations and habitats, some found nowhere else in the world!

California's ecological reserves also provide educational and recreational opportunities for wildlife viewing, nature walking, and fishing in areas where these activities have no adverse effect on the wildlife and habitats.Welcome to California's ecological reserves!

---