Land Back in Action: Saving the San Marcos Foothills

In 2021—at the height of the pandemic—after decades of efforts to protect the San Marcos Foothills Preserve, developers once again threatened the San Marcos Foothills Preserve in Santa Barbara with luxury homes. Members of the Chumash community, their allies, and dozens of public interest, Santa Barbara community members, and environmental organizations protested with sit-ins, social media blasts, signs, songs, and outreach.

Their efforts, combined with community activism, helped save a significant portion of the foothills—a victory that demonstrates how Indigenous leadership in land stewardship benefits entire ecosystems and communities.