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Nisene

Nisene is most commonly used to refer to Nisene Marks State Park, a California state park in Santa Cruz County. The park protects a substantial portion of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ coastal redwood forest and is known for the Forest of Nisene Marks, a stand of old-growth redwoods that is a centerpiece of the area.

Geography and ecology: The park lies northeast of the city of Santa Cruz, in a rugged landscape

History and name: The park is named in honor of Nisene Marks, a local resident and conservation

Recreation and access: The park offers an extensive network of trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking,

Events and impact: The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake triggered landslides across the park, damaging trails and

Nisene Marks State Park is part of the California state park system and is a notable example

of
ridges
and
canyons.
It
preserves
a
mosaic
of
coastal
redwood
forest,
oak
woodland,
and
chaparral,
and
provides
habitat
for
wildlife
such
as
deer,
foxes,
coyotes,
and
numerous
bird
species.
advocate
who
contributed
to
the
preservation
of
the
area.
The
California
Department
of
Parks
and
Recreation
manages
the
park,
which
was
formed
through
land
acquisitions
and
local
support
in
the
late
20th
century.
as
well
as
opportunities
for
wildlife
viewing
along
the
canyons
and
ridges.
The
area
is
accessible
from
Santa
Cruz
County
communities
such
as
Aptos
and
Soquel,
with
entrances
from
major
roads
near
the
coast.
reshaping
parts
of
the
landscape.
Despite
this,
the
park
remains
a
major
destination
for
outdoor
recreation
and
conservation
in
the
region.
of
coastal
redwood
habitat
in
the
central
California
coast.