Fri Feb 19 2016
Habitat for All Five Populations of Cypress Tree in Santa Cruz Mountains is Now Secure
![Santa Cruz Cypress Recovering, Reclassified as "Threatened"](/web/20160414164826im_/https://www.indybay.org/uploads/admin_uploads/2016/02/19/santa_cruz_cypress_kristina_barry_usfws_lrg.jpg)
The cypress is found only in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. This compact, coniferous tree with dense, cone-producing branches thrives in coastal chaparral communities above the fog belt. Before the Santa Cruz cypress was protected under the Act, it faced intense pressure from development, logging, disease and competition from non-native species, which ultimately stifled its ability to repopulate and thrive in its historic habitat. Through the cooperative efforts of local, state and federal agencies, most of the trees now live in fully protected areas.
The recovery plan developed by federal scientists determined that the cypress, which now numbers between 33,000 to 44,000 trees, could be downlisted once all five of its populations were protected from threats that include development, non-native species and unauthorized trail-building. Though the exact number of trees at the time of listing was unknown, the Service estimated there were only around 2,300.
![pdf](/web/20160414164826im_/https://www.indybay.org/im/imc_pdf.gif)
Previous Coverage: California's Santa Cruz Cypress Recovering, Ready for Downlisting