sierra club
DESCRIPTION
Presentation made to the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club as Acterra Chief Steward.TRANSCRIPT
The Keepers of the Hall
Caring for Natural Resources and the Acterra Stewardship Program
Biodiversity in California
Over 1,800 rare animal species, more than 5,000 native plant species.
Extinction rate: 3rd highest in US. 135 imperiled species found in San Francisco
Bay Area. Primary threat: habitat alteration (Nature
Conservancy, 2003.
Invasive Species
Economic impacts > 137 billion / yr. (Wilson, 2004)
Ranked 2nd most severe threat to biodiversity in US today (TNC, 1996).
Outcompetition, habitat dominance and displacement of native species.
Alter ecosystem processes; fire, water cycles, and erosion.
Hybridize with native species and alteration of the gene pool.
Are any of these familiar?
The elephant in the Preserve
Stewardship
From Old English stigweard; the keeper of the hall.¹
“The concept of land as a resource, our responsibility to wisely manage that resource, and our responsibility to future generations for the condition of that resource when we leave it.” ²
Preserve, connect, protect, restore.
1. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stewardship2. http://dnr.maryland.gov/criticalarea/glossary.html
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
622 acres Palo Alto Foothills Owned by City of PA, Environmental
Stewardship by Acterra. Free, open 365 days, allows biking, hiking,
fishing, horseback riding, nature study. 3 primary habitat types.
Oak Woodland
Plant Species 5 oak species California bay laurel Herbacious native and
non-native understory
Animal Species Acorn Woodpecker Garter Snake Bobcat
Importance of Oaks
1. Support vast amounts of biodiversity.• 300 terrestrial vertebrate species • 1,100 vascular plants• 370 fungal species• 5,000 arthropod species
2. Promote watershed health.• Regulate water flow• Protect soils from erosion• Maintain water quality
This slide and the next are courtesy of Lynne Trulio’s ENVS 191 class, SJSU, Spring, 2008.
Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)
•Deciduous•Trunk: dull brown bark, thick, deep creases.•Leaves: deep lobes, faded green, velvety texture
(http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/ (http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall02%20projects/valley_oak.html)
Riparian and Ponds
Plant Species Willows Cattails Invasive and native
herbaceous understory
Animal Species Herons and egrets Dusky footed woodrat Pacific tree frog
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Introduced from Europe as an ornamental, now found in 46 of the contiguous states.
Produces between 5,000 and Produces between 5,000 and 38,000 seeds per plant.38,000 seeds per plant.
Can grow from 3-10 feet in one year.
Oak Savannah
Plant Species Native tarweeds and
willow-herb. Isolated oaks Wildflowers Invasive and native
grasses
Animal Species Coyote Western Rattlesnake Pacific Black-tailed deer
Purple Needlegrass (Nasella pulchra)
Most native California grasses grow in a bunch pattern that provides higher habitat value in the form of forage, nesting, and travel lanes.
Many native grasses are perennial. Green all year, they provide defensible space against wildfires.
Do you know your natives?
What we do – Acterra’s Stewardship Program
At Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
Invasive weed management
Interpretive hikes Seed collection Watershed-specific
outplanting Research & information
sharing
At other sites Native Plant Nursery Restoration Database Fundraising, community
relationships and logistics.
Young Earth Stewards
Volunteers!
Backbone of Acterra’s Stewardship Program at Pearson-Arastradero Preserve.
Community service, interns, corporations, individuals.
Adopt-a-plot, workdays, weed warriors, logistics.
Avg. 750 people/yr with 4,000 hours donated!
What you can do
WEED ABATEMENT Contact city and county governments and transportation
agencies and ask them to control weeds like Dittrichia and Italian Thistle on rights-of-way, roadside areas, and public lands.
NATIVE PLANTS Advocate and practice the use of native plants for landscaping
where you live, play, work, shop, visit, and recreate.
RECREATE RESPONSIBLY Stay on trails! Learn about native ecosystems and the dangers
to them. Don't be a weed-seed or Sudden Oak Death source; clean boots, clothes, pets, tires, and vehicles whenever you go from one park or preserve to another. Leave no trace! This includes microtrash (i.e. orange peels) as well as garbage.
Wait, there’s more!
CARBON REDUCTION Carpool, bike ride, and take public transportation whenever
possible. Purchase carbon credits when you can't. Buy local foods and products. Visit www.acterra.org for more ideas.
VOLUNTEER AND DONATE! Participate in habitat restoration, trail maintenance, bird-box
monitoring, weed eradication, and public education and outreach. If you don't have time to volunteer, make a donation to your favorite park or preserve on a regular basis.
HABITAT RESTORATION Acterra hosts habitat restoration events every second and fourth
Saturday from 9-1, as well as Wednesday evenings from 6-8 PM. For information on what to wear, what to bring with you, and directions to the Preserve please see: http://www.acterra.org/arastradero/volunteer.html.
We are the keepers of the hall
Contact
Miriam Sachs Martín, Chief Preserve Steward. [email protected] / (408)597-7830.
www.Acterra.org
3921 East Bayshore RoadPalo Alto CA 94303-4303USA.
650-962-9876 (Front Desk).