According to some officials, the trust is eyeing at least 95 parcels located generally between Skyline Boulevard and the coast and from Pacifica to the Santa Cruz County border, just south of Pescadero. Most of the parcels are about 100 acres.

The San Mateo County coast has been designated as one of the environmental "hot spots in the world, according to some scientists. Hot spots are defined as sites rich in biodiversity and threatened by development.

The trust has options to buy three acres at Whalers Cove next to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse for $2.65 million; the Bolsa Point Ranches totaling 1,719 acres for $39 million and the 215-acre addition to the Johnson Ranch for $305 million. Since 1977, the Peninsula Open Space Trust has put more than 43,000 acres under its wind, 26.000 acres of that in coastal property.