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Pepperdine University Dedicates 73 Acres of Open Space for Preservation

Located on approximately 830 acres of land in the greater Malibu area, Pepperdine University's campus covers only a small fraction of the land with around three-quarters of the property remaining in pristine open space. Comprehending the delicate ecosystems of the Santa Monica Mountains, in 2000 Pepperdine University offered to dedicate a 72.7-acre property known as Little Las Flores Canyon, located approximately eight miles from the Malibu campus, for conservation and preservation in collaboration with government agencies.

The Little Las Flores Canyon site is a critical part of the habitat and ecosystem of the adjoining Tuna Canyon Significant Ecological Area (SEA). Los Angeles County defined the area as contiguous tracts of core habitat in the mountains with the goal of providing multiple ecologically sound habitat linkages between them. Little Las Flores Canyon's on-site water resources are integrally connected, via its stream course and canyon-bottom habitats, to other mapped Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs). To help preserve the balance between habitat protection and public access, a designated trail route - ascending to Backbone Trail - is the only available public access to the land.

"Pepperdine University is proud to be a part of this conservation milestone in dedicating the Little Las Flores property. It represents, in part, our commitment to working together with the resource agencies and it reflects our broader commitment to the environment," said Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton. "It is the hard work of public agencies, but also the careful private stewardship of land and resources that I believe is the key to ensuring a healthy future for all. We are glad to join hands with the resource agencies in this endeavor."

An invitation-only dedication ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 1, to mark the ambitious conservation plans becoming a reality. Scheduled to attend are Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, President Benton, and representatives from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Game.

The property dedication is the result of a culmination of the hard work and partnership of the University, the County of Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Game. The property will be protected by a conservation easement held by Department of Fish and Game, with the underlying fee title to be held by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.