In the late 1940s, a young University of California researcher watched in dismay as the research plot where he had been studying desert iguanas was bulldozed to build a motel. The experience galvanized him and other UC scientists to establish a library of ecosystems dedicated to research, teaching, and public service. The University of California Natural Reserve System now includes examples of most major state habitats, from coastal tidepools to inland deserts, oak woodlands to lush wetlands, and alpine mountaintops to redwood forests. Tens of thousands of university students, researchers, and schoolchildren visit reserves every year. Discover how the UC Natural Reserve System is cultivating tomorrow's field scientists, providing environmental forecasting, and serving the people of California.