The Rancho Encinalito Bioinventory, conducted in October 2023, brought together 61 participants, including researchers, government agency representatives, and community members. The effort documented both aquatic and terrestrial species, resulting in 4,614 total observations across 792 species recorded on iNaturalist. This included 432 plants, 44 fungi, 60 birds, 19 mammals, 20 reptiles, three amphibians, 173 insects, 32 arachnids, and several other invertebrate species. This foundational research established baseline biodiversity data that now guides ongoing biological monitoring across Rancho Encinalito and other UCAS ranches.

Link to the Bioinventory here. Link to video here.

A team of five Master’s students from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara conducted a year-long thesis project in collaboration with Rancho Encinalito and ranchers across UCAS. In response to prolonged drought, overgrazing, and habitat loss, the project evaluated sustainable alternatives to traditional cattle ranching. Findings showed that current stocking rates exceed ecological carrying capacity, contributing to both landscape degradation and financial strain. The team concluded that gradually transitioning toward ecotourism presents a viable pathway to increase economic stability while supporting ecological recovery and biodiversity conservation.

Link to the Bren Project here.

UCAS is advancing several watershed restoration and water management initiatives to enhance rainwater capture, soil moisture retention, and sustainable land use. In partnership with the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), Rancho Cacachilas, and the Sierra a Mar program, three major rainwater harvesting and landscape restoration projects are currently being developed at Rancho Los Aguajitos, Rancho El Pretexto, and Rancho Mariposa. These efforts focus on improving hydrological function, supporting forest regeneration, and restoring productive agricultural and grazing areas.

A core mission of UCAS is to expand conservation collaboration across the wider region. Neighboring ranches, including Rancho La Piedra (envisioned as a future learning center), Rancho La Pila, Rancho La Ballena, San José del Rancho, Rancho Los Correderos, Los Encinos, Los Robles, and Presa La Buena Mujer have expressed interest in participating. Through these partnerships, UCAS is building a growing network of ranches committed to ecological restoration, sustainable livelihoods, and shared land stewardship across the Sierra de la Laguna and the Los Planes watershed.

The “Supporting Integrated Tree Conservation in the Cape Region” project focuses on the protection and propagation of eight threatened or protected native tree species identified during the Bioinventory, with potential to include additional rare plants. Supported by the Franklinia Foundation, the project includes the expansion of a new nursery to produce seedlings for restoration across UCAS ranches. Five local ranchers will be trained and employed as conservation technicians, supporting both ecological recovery and alternative livelihoods. Collaboration with the Morton Arboretum, the Global Conservation Consortium for Oaks (GCCO), and regional partners positions this nursery as a central hub for long-term community-led restoration.

To better understand avian diversity and seasonal movement, Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) were deployed across Rancho Mariposa and Rancho Encinalito from August 2024 to August 2025. Placed along the riparian corridor and across multiple elevations and habitats, these recorders capture continuous bird vocalizations. The resulting audio data will be used to identify species presence, assess diversity and richness, and analyze migratory timing. This research establishes an important acoustic baseline for long-term monitoring of bird communities in the region.

UCAS conducts ongoing biodiversity monitoring across member ranches, including bird surveys, camera trap monitoring for mammals, and vegetation assessments to guide restoration planning. The network also works under Wildlife Management Unit (UMA) frameworks to support the conservation and responsible use of native fauna, and holds permits to collect forest germplasm such as seeds and cuttings for native tree propagation. Additionally, UCAS is analyzing forest cover and forage availability to determine sustainable livestock carrying capacity (number of cattle per hectare), providing ranchers with practical guidance for aligning herd size with ecological health.

UCAS is partnering with the La Paz–based birding organization Lugares Pajarosos to expand community-based ecotourism opportunities across UCAS ranches. By hosting birdwatching tours, natural history walks, and cultural exchange programs, ranchers can diversify income away from sole reliance on cattle ranching. Rancho Mariposa, Rancho Aguajitos, and Rancho Encinalito have already welcomed researchers and visitors for birding, hiking, and conservation-focused tourism. These activities highlight the region’s ecological richness while supporting ranchers in building sustainable, nature-based livelihoods.

UCAS is exploring the formal designation of Rancho Encinalito as a voluntarily protected conservation area or “ADVC”, recognizing its ecological importance within the Sierra de la Laguna and the Los Planes watershed. This prospective initiative would safeguard key habitats that support high bird diversity, native oak species, and critical riparian corridors, while strengthening long-term landscape connectivity across neighboring UCAS ranches. The designation would also create a framework for community-led stewardship, enabling Encinalito to serve as a model site for restoration, ecological research, and low-impact nature tourism.