Situated in North-Central California, the Golden Gate Biosphere represents a highly diverse complex of terrestrial, coastal, and marine environments. The reserve is complimented by a rich cultural history with lands and waters in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties.
Designated in 1988 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), the Golden Gate Biosphere encompasses urban, multi-use managed areas, and wildlands that include marine and aquatic ecosystems as well as terrestrial ecosystems ranging from evergreen forests (including the iconic and endemic Coast Redwood), oak woodlands, chaparral, coastal scrub and prairies, rare serpentine grasslands, as well as coastal and offshore islands.
Through a collaborative approach, the Golden Gate Biosphere protects the natural and cultural resources of the dynamic North-Central California coastal bioregion through conservation, education, research and monitoring, and sustainable development.
Partnerships between Golden Gate Biosphere managers and communities adjacent to and within the reserve greatly enhance the adaptive capacity of the ecological and cultural resources here. This alliance also provides a critical network for the coordination of regional and local stakeholder engagement, sustainable development for local economies, and environmental training for current and future leaders.
Download the Golden Gate Biosphere Zonation Map (PDF, 6.7MB)
Contact Us: Info@ggbiosphere.org