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Stanford main campus looking from foothills down to the bay
Stanford University

Stanford Conservation Program

A part of Stanford University's Land, Buildings, and Real Estate

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Our team’s mission is to protect and bolster biodiversity in and around Stanford in order to inspire value for local stewardship in our community for this and future generations. To achieve that mission, we guide the University in meeting its goals and requirements to conserve biodiversity, steward protected species and the lands they occupy, we encourage learning about the natural world around us.

Stanford University land is located on the southeastern flank of the San Francisco Peninsula, at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and is part of two watersheds that empty into the San Francisco Bay – the San Francisquito Creek and Matadero Creek watersheds.  Although it is surrounded by suburban development and houses a thriving academic community, Stanford lands also support high levels of native biodiversity including multiple species of conservation concern and the ecosystems upon which they rely.

Green hill with yellow flowers

We recognize that Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor and make visible the university’s relationship to Native peoples.

— Stanford Land Acknowledgement

Volunteers watering native plants

Events

We rely on volunteers to help with invasive plant management, native plantings, and educational outreach. Take a look here for upcoming events, webinars, and work days!

Virtual field trip screenshot shows California Tiger Salamander trap line

Lands We Steward: Lagunita and Stanford's Tiger Salamander Conservation Easement

Explore the life cycle of California Tiger Salamanders on Stanford campus and how we work in a suburban environment to conserve this threatened species. In this tour you can access areas like Lake Lagunita and the Dish through a series of photospheres—360° immersive photographs—and listen to our team members discuss their work at each location.

Canoe on blue water

Site news

Read featured news items written by members of our program.

Featured Events

California tiger salamander breeding migration! 

During the rainy, winter months, California tiger salamanders will migrate to their breeding sites, typically in ponds to breed.