Hello Plant-loving Friends!
I have struggled writing this month’s President’s Message, vacillating between keeping my words light and cheery or focusing on more serious, non-cheery subjects. Ultimately, I went with something in between that is dear to my heart—habitat restoration.
A lot of sprawling development goes on in our region seemingly with no consideration for the plants and habitats we love so much. From the air, the fingers of haphazard development can be seen spreading like a hydra across the landscape, gobbling up native habitat and cutting off habitat linkages needed to keep our local ecosystems whole. If biodiversity protection and maintenance of our open spaces for plants, wildlife, and ourselves are to persist, our region needs to establish regional planning frameworks that actually value nature and people. We are not there yet.
Most CNPS members can likely recite a long list of conservation losses, and in dwelling on society’s failures it is far too easy to slide toward despair. Refreshingly, in my new job, I am working with people across the state whose professional lives are centered around restoring California’s wild habitats. These are hopeful, driven people who care deeply about correcting the mistakes of the past by facilitating healing through restoration. Our own state has many new directives, such as 30×30 to acquire land for conservation purposes, use nature-based solutions to fight climate change, and to restore biodiversity. California finally has real programs in place to increase the pace and scale of conservation and restoration, and to durably protect and restore our land and water. For the first time in a long time, I am truly optimistic.
Photo taken May 31, 2023, by Amy Henderson.
Has this growing restoration movement come too late in the face of climate change? I don’t have that answer but I do know that there are a lot of amazing people out there committed to doing their part. There are plenty of restoration projects taking place here in our region, especially work to reconnect floodplains and improve riparian habitats on our rivers and streams. Following removal of the Klamath Dams, thousands of acres of native plant restoration will take place where algal blooms once dominated.
What actions can we take, both serious and cheery, to help preserve biodiversity where we live? Plant locally native plants and trees that provide food and shelter for our wildlife. Help spread the word on the importance of California’s native plants. Go for a hike and find a new species. Offer your voice to advocate for the protection of the open spaces and native habitats around you. Share your concern and perspectives with your elected officials. And whenever engaging with the local development planning process is about to make you go crazy with frustration (and it certainly will), take a break to volunteer on a restoration project. Recharge and bask in the positive energy of the habitat restoration practitioner community and move the needle toward biodiversity recovery in a tangible way. Recharge with a shot of hope and good cheer.
As we begin our summer break for the Chapter—the next in-person meeting will be in September—it is time to thank our members, board, and scholarship winners with a get-together of sorts. The Chapter will be hosting a semi-potluck gathering on Thursday, June 15, at my home from 5 to 8 PM. We will provide the main dish (tacos) and you can provide a side of your choice. Please RSVP to the Chapter’s email address at shastacnps@gmail.com. When you RSVP, we will send you directions. I am looking forward to meeting you in person and hope that you will take some time out of your busy week to join us.
In conservation,
Amy Henderson, President
Photo taken May 31, 2023, by Amy Henderson.