The University of California, Los Angeles campus is an incredibly unique and individual campus because of the volume of students it services compounded by its central location in one of the largest metropolises in the world. These two factors combined make for a high density campus on a very small plot of land. Since UCLA's inaugural year in 1919, the campus has grown exponentially from its first graduating class of 300 to today's astonishing student population of 40,000. To accommodate such a dramatic increase, the campus has built upwards, outwards, and every which way, leaving little space free from buildings and parking lots. Two main natural reserves remain on campus, maintaining a glimpse of Southern California chaparral in the otherwise concrete eternity of Los Angeles. These two vegetated sanctuaries are the Sage Hill Reserve and the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens. These two natural reserves offer a learning sanctuary through which students can examine the chaparral environment native to Southern California, a buffer from busy streets and neighborhoods, and also provide the last concentrated pieces of greenery in an otherwise urban campus.
Through our project analyzing the changes in natural vegetation coverage of UCLA, we will research the history of vegetative coverage on campus, with particular attention paid towards the two natural reserves. We will analyze how the plant coverage has changed since UCLA was established in 1919, and what can be done to improve the quality of the vegetation found in and around the UCLA campus. This is a pertinent topic that should be researched because it concerns the preservation of the delicate and dwindling chaparral forest that can be found naturally in the Los Angeles area. It is therefore important for us to understand the quality of both the Sage Hill and the Stone Canyon Creek region so that we can continue our preservation efforts to ensure that these reserves are around for years to come for enjoyment and enrichment of future UCLA students. Because no comprehensive study has been conducted of tree coverage in Los Angeles since the 1960’s, and no in-depth recorded analysis of UCLA has ever been completed, this study will serve as a reference point to ensure that despite our growth and development as a university, we maintain a certain standard for greenery on campus that is not sacrificed for the addition of endless amounts of buildings. A time series of the historical vegetation coverage of the UCLA campus will be put to good use and guarantee the continuation of the green, natural environment we enjoy today.
