The 399-acre Portuguese Bend Reserve was preserved in 2005 and is the largest of the ten reserves that make up the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. As well as providing community-valued recreation, it contains important linkages for wildlife and valuable native habitat for sensitive species.

The Portuguese Bend Reserve consists of rolling hills, five distinct steep canyons and rock outcrops, with coastal sage scrub habitat, a community of intensely fragrant and drought resistant shrubs and flowering plants. Located below and to the east of Del Cerro Park are the areas known as Lemonadeberry Parcel, Eagle's Nest, the Badlands, and the active landslide and dirt extension of Crenshaw Boulevard. Unique features include a pillow lava outcrop called Ailor Cliff after Conservancy founder Bill Ailor.

An August 2009 wildfire burned approximately 165-acres within the Reserve, affecting both native and non-native vegetation and known nesting sites of the threatened coastal California gnatcatcher and the special status cactus wren. We are actively restoring the habitat and will continue to do so over the next few years through selective weeding, native seed and plant installation, trail repair, and species monitoring to help the burn area recover.