Cheeseman Environmental Study Area

About the ESA

The Cheeseman Environmental Study Area is located next to the Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies on the southeast corner of campus. It's a lush natural garden and a living classroom, containing some 400 species of plants representing 12 California natural communities. In addition to the native plant communities, there is a xeric native plant display at the entrance.

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Video Tour: Cheeseman ESA

See more of our campus video tour on the Video Tour webpage.

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California's Biological Richness

California is a naturalist's paradise. Our state has hundreds of habitat types and plant communities, with more than 5,000 species of native plants. You can experience many of these special wonders with a walk through our 1.5 acre garden.

At least a third of California's native species are found naturally nowhere else on Earth. California's plants support nearly 1,000 vertebrate animals-fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Among animals as a whole, including insects and other invertebrates, at least 50 percent of the species and subspecies are found only within our state. In short, we are very fortunate to live in such a biologically vibrant place!

Cheeseman ESA Facts

• 1.5 acres
• Over 400 species of native plants
• Visited by several thousand students and community members per year
• Free tours for school and community groups led by our skilled docents
• Xeric plant display

12 Native Plant Communities

• Freshwater marsh and pond
• Coastal sand dunes
• Coastal redwoods
• Foothill woodland
• Grassland
• Conifers
• Channel Islands
• California desert
• Coastal sage scrub
• Chaparral
• Riparian
• Xeric display

Experience the ESA!

• NEW: ESA Pictorial Story Map
• Visit our ESA photo gallery to see what lives in these California plant communities
• Request a tour for your community or school group
• Read the story of the ESA.