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Naturescape

From the founding of UCI, the naturescape has been essential to our identity. UCI's open space is home to all that identify with UCI. The landscape is responsive to the UCI Green & Gold Plan, and more information can be found Campus Planning & Sustainability. As the UCI campus continues to grow and we are impacted by a changing climate, the UCI Naturescape offers a vision for managing all of UCI's living laboratory.

UCI Naturescape encompasses UCI's footprint in Irvine and across California with open space and built environment managed by the institution. The Naturescape serves campus life and community activities, art and culture, habitat and watershed management, recreation, wellness and interdisciplinary teaching and research. More information about the management of reserve areas can be found at UCI Nature.

UCI is also a recognized Tree Campus USA and a Bee Campus USA.

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Aldrich Park

The foundation of UCI serves as its most prominent open space for campus life, research, education, and more.

Earth Day 2022: Julie Ellen Coffey Assistant Specialist UCI-Nature leads a group during UCI Ecological Preserve BioBlitz 2022. Participants document different things they find through the inaturalist app. photo: Steve Zylius/UCI

Ecological Preserve

60-acre site on the southern edge of campus located adjacent to University Hills, University Research Park, and San Joaquin Transportation Corridor.

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San Joaquin Marsh Reserve

202-acre reserve adjacent to the main campus and includes a variety of wetland habitats. Serves as an educational and research location for UCI.

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Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve

306-acre reserve located in the western Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park.

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Steel Burnand Anza -Borrego Desert Research

78-acre site near the Anza Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego County.