Bill Ailor founds the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy as a 50 l (c)3 nonprofit corporation. Eleven local residents gathered together as the first Board of Directors of a nonpolitical group dedicated to the preservation of open space on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Conservancy begins effort to create a 1,000-acre “Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve,” to preserve the 53-acre Shoreline Park, and to dedicate the Lunada Canyon parcel. The first newsletter “Open Spaces” is published.
Conservancy places $12.5 million for PV land preservation in County-wide measure. The measure fails, but brings recognition of PV open space issues.
First Conservancy-presented Guided Nature Walk with over 300 people attended first monthly walk.
First Executive Director is hired.
20-acre Lunada Canyon is preserved with a major donation by the E.K. Zuckerman family.
L.A County voters approve over $7 million for Peninsula open space preservation through the Conservancy-led L.A. County Measure A.
28.5-acre Chandler Trust property preserved using I992 Measure A funds.
First Conservancy-sponsored Children’s Walk with over 100 children attending.
Conservancy gathers nearly 10,000 signatures favoring CalPAW 94, which included a $4 million allocation for Peninsula open space. Measure did not pass, but put the Peninsula on the map as a critical area for land preservation.
Chandler Trust lands dedicated as Linden H. Chandler Preserve.
Conservancy spearheads first survey of community on open space preservation issues of over 600 residents shows over 60% would tax themselves to save land.
Chandler family donates $100,000 for restoration of Chandler.
First Land Stewardship Director is hired.
Land stewardship/habitat restoration begins in Chandler, regularly attracting Boy Scouts, high school students, and others.
Conservancy hosts Congresswoman Jane Harman and Assistant Secretary of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service George Frampton on tour through proposed Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve.
First Children’s Education Program class. More than 1,700 elementary school children share an in-class learning experience and a guided nature walk that year, and each year since.
Conservancy provides contract naturalist services to City of Rolling Hills Estates for George F Canyon Nature Center.
Palos Verdes Coordinating Council honors Conservancy with Community Service award in recognition of preservation efforts.
Conservancy brings together over $7 million in L.A. County Measure A and other State sources for the acquisition of the 160-acre Forrestal property.
Conservancy receives $100,000 donation from Diamond Brothers, the previous owners of the Forrestal property.
After eight years of work by the Conservancy, developer Ken Zuckerman, and L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, the
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is transferred to Rancho Palos Verdes and preserved forever.
Conservancy President Bill Ailor wins Community Appreciation Award for “outstanding contribution and service to the residents of the Palos Verdes Peninsula community.”
Conservancy works with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to develop the Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) that would create the 1,200-acre Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve.
Conservancy’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration – A Decade of Preservation.
Conservancy signs 25-year agreement with the City of Los Angeles for management of 100-acre White Point Nature Preserve.
Conservancy President Bill Ailor named Citizen of the Year by PV Chamber of Commerce.
City of Rancho Palos Verdes asks Conservancy to manage Portuguese Bend Nature Reserve.
Conservancy and City staff go to Washington DC to lobby for federal funding for NCCPs.
Dr Allen & Charlotte Ginsburg donate $500,000 to Conservancy for stewardship endowment.
White Point Nature Preserve is officially opened to the public for the first time in 50 years.
NCCP Plan and Environment Impact Report (EIR) approved by RPV City Council and Conservancy Board.
Purchase agreement signed with Barry Hon to acquire 463 acres in Portuguese Bend and Agua Amarga Canyon.
“Fulfill the Dream” community campaign to preserve Portuguese Bend kicks off in March at Del Cerro Park and reaches target of $4 million by September.
Wildlife Conservation Board awards $10 million grant for acquisition at appraised value. Annenberg Foundation awards $1 million challenge grant. Don Knabe, LA County Supervisor donates $1 million in open space bond money. California Coastal Conservancy donates $1.5 million. Deal is closed in December and land preserved in perpetuity.
Conservancy more than triples the amount of acres it manages from 350 to 1,300.
Bill Ailor steps down as President since founding the Conservancy in 1988 and is succeeded by Henry Jurgens.
The Conservancy launches a new partnership with the L.A. Conservation Corps designing an after-school wilderness education program for middle school students from underserved South Bay communities.
Helped ensure the recovery of the rare PV Blue butterfly by restoring the native habitat necessary for their breeding. A record number of up to 700 butterflies per day emerged and were released on Conservancy protected habitat.
Distributed 8 weather stations funded by a grant from the Major Foundation to 5 schools, which enabled real time Peninsula weather data.
California Coastal Conservancy approves $5.5 million grant for acquisition from voter approved open space bond. City of Rancho Palos Verdes contributes $600,000.
Wildfires in August 2009 affect 180 acres of property in Portuguese Bend area. Over 700 supporters contribute $1.2 million to the Acquisition and Restoration Campaign to acquire the 191-acre Upper Filiorum property and restore the burned areas, completing the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve – 900-acres of contiguous land preserved in perpetuity.
Former Executive Director Barbara Dye named Woman of the Year for Assembly District 54 for her work on the Fulfill the Dream campaign and the successful effort to preserve Portuguese Bend.
Conservancy builds a new Nature Education Center at White Point Nature Preserve. The opening on May 22 features hands-on exhibitions inside the former missile assembly building and two native plant demonstration gardens surrounding the center.
RPV City Council approves 50-year Management Agreement with Conservancy on Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, and
finalizes conservation easement.
Half-acre parcel donation received at Portuguese Bend by Mendel Family, and two half-acre canyon parcels near Crownview Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes from the Kopak Family.
Conservancy adds to Coastal Trail System connecting Oregon to Mexico to help promote non-motorized transportation and conservation of the Pacific Coast.
Celebrated 20th year of Third Grade Education Program- outreach affects over 34,000 students and 7,600 parents
Hadley Family establishes first endowment gift which will generate approximately $60,000 annually.
15-acre parcel of land adjacent to George F Canyon purchased with the help of numerous donors for 70% of its assessed value.
Conservancy receives Environmental Stewardship Award from Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi.
National Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) nears Completion.
Milestone Natural Community Conservation Plan adopted by RPV City Council formalizing area-wide protection and management of natural wildlife diversity, while also permitting compatible and appropriate development and growth. New signage installed at trail entrances of major reserves of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.
Historic first release of captive reared Palos Verdes blue butterflies into historic breeding grounds on the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Launch of the Go Wild for the Peninsula $30 Million Campaign to Create a New Wildlife Corridor.
Open first permanent home Conservation Center located next to the preserved Abalone Cove Reserve.
Celebration Marking the Success of the $30 million Go Wild for the Peninsula Campaign, highest amount ever raised on the Peninsula.
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