Our land feeds our minds, bodies, and soul. The natural earth is the most crucial legacy we can pass onto our children and grandchildren. Today, the breathtaking and ecologically diverse open space that occupies California draws people from all over the world to enjoy its beauty. Fresh air, wild forests, babbling brooks, rolling hills, and sunny beaches define the California landscape. Endemic species like the Tule Elk, San Francisco Garter Snake, Golden Trout, and California Tiger Salamander habituate these ecosystems. But all too often, these species and the land they inhabit has been lost to development. Next we will examine the economic costs and benefits to saving the California Tiger Salamander.