As vast as it is beautiful, protected open spaces comprise more than half of the historic 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch, known for its master-planned communities and unique abundance of accessible wildlands, trails and parks. It was created over the last 100 years through conservation initiatives of The Irvine Company, community organizations and municipalities. It is home to hundreds of species of native plants and animals, and features terrain varying from rugged mountains to rolling meadows to sandy beaches. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy, in cooperation with owners and stakeholders, serves as steward of the wildlands and parks, integrating two primary roles: planning and managing the preservation and protection of the native habitat and species on the land, and coordinating appropriate public access to the area.