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This is "Impact" from the University of California Merced
Many University of California campuses started off in the middle of nowhere. Their communities
grew to surround them.
At UC Merced, one area will always remain green -- 6,500 acres of protected open space,
including vernal pools, the university hopes to add to the UC Natural Reserve system.
A vernal pool is a temporary wetland. The vernal pools typically only fill up during
the rainy season, which in California is from basically December through April.
It's a system that preserves natural landscapes -- ecosystems -- and is there to be studied
and provide educational opportunities as well as preservation.
The green space would function as an education center benefitting the community and a living
lab for the university and researchers around the world.
Getting students at the community college, at the high school and down even to the elementary
school level involved with exploring and understanding how this ecosystem works.
Especially interesting are the fairy shrimp. There are six species that are found in this
area, all of which are protected. Some are endangered species.
Some research projects would add to the body of knowledge on the co-existence of humans
and their animal neighbors.
The amount of interesting, unique life that's found around the pools, many endemic species
of plants and invertebrates are found nowhere else. So we have an obligation to protect
this habitat. And also, from a scientific standpoint, there's much we need to learn.
Not only will this land be available for University of California research, but our research partners
and scientific fellowship all around the world. It will be a global resource.
This is Eric Alvarez reporting.