The Santa Monica Mountains, extending from Elysian Park overlooking Los Angeles City Hall to the Oxnard Plain are unique in California as the only unspoiled coastal range in the midst of a major metropolitan area with both coastal and mountain ecosystems. Although the eastern side of the range is largely covered by residential communities, there remain many untouched areas suitable for parks and open spaces. Many parts of the western side of the range still support species such as mountain lions, bobcats, and golden eagles.
Streams provide habitat for stealhead and other native species.
As early as 1930, the Olmstead Report recognized the ecological value of this region. The objectives of the Conservancy are to create a continuous network of parks and trails for public use and wildlife habitat that will ensure a future for open space within the Conservancy's 450,000-acre zone. These goals and objectives were set for the agency in the Santa Monica Mountains Comprehensive Plan and the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan. The Conservancy has an eight-member governing board appointed by a variety of officials and agencies, including the National Park Service, and State and city governments. The unique status of the Conservancy and its partnerships gives it the power to act quickly to make land purchases and work cooperatively with other park and governmental agencies to achieve mutual goals.