.jpg)
Nature in the City News
Earth Day 2009
Earth Day is upon us again (although, here at Nature in the City, every day is Earth Day!) We will not be holding the McLaren Park event this year, instead we are gathering our resources and planning for a great 2010 celebration!
If you are looking for a great way to help out nature in SF this year, check out the Presidio Park Stewards at Mountain Lake or the California Native Plant Society at Grandview Park (which is along the Green Hairstreak Corridor - keep your eye out for the butterflies!)
 |
Mission Blue on Lupine Hardy Wilson, SF Chronicle |
Quest for the Endangered Mission Blue Butterfly
SF Gate
"...the work of saving the endangered Mission blue is anything but a laughing matter for [Stuart] Weiss and San Francisco city officials. On Thursday they began to reintroduce the insects on Twin Peaks, one of the butterflies' few remaining habitats and a spot where only a few are thought to live...
The hope Thursday was to net 22 pregnant females. The result: two."
Nature in the City played a role in the initial strategy and advocacy for Rec and Park to implement this extremely important endangered species project.
TAKING ROOT: The Vision of
Wangari Maathai
 |
Green Belt Movement tree nursery in Kenya. Ariel Poster |
Nature in the City's Peter Brastow will be a guest speaker at this event, so don't miss it!
THURSDAY, APRIL 23rd
7:30-9pm
Coffee to the People
Haight-Ashbury
The film, TAKING ROOT tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration.
"As reported on KQED World, Wangari Maathai is raising the issue of exotic plants in Africa. She notes that eucalyptus is one of the chief threats to biodiversity on the continent because of how much water it uses. She wants all plants imported into Africa to be vetted for their potential effect on Africa's natural environment and the people's way of life."
From Air America Radio with Rachel Maddow, December 20, 2004:
"Wangari Maathai: Well a lot of deforestation was actually done in order to make way for plantations of exotic species such as the pines from the Northern Hemisphere and the eucalyptus from the Southern Hemisphere, and this was necessary for the industrial sector, which was expanding a lot, especially about thirty years ago or so. It was considered that the local trees do not grow fast enough, are not economically easily exploitable, and so people, the government encouraged the clear cutting of indigenous trees to replace them with farms of plantations. Now to an unaided eye, trees are trees, and so one would say for farms or for exotic plantations, monocultures of pines and eucalyptus are also forest. But they aren't, because when these were introduced they got rid of a lot of the biodiversity that is very, very important."
Candlestick Point Ready for Restoration
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is funding a $1.2 million project to remove years of construction debris, trash, and other hazards that have been dumped along the bayfront property. The accumulated waste is interfering with the natural development of the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, and poses a risk to the health and safety of those who use the park.
Former California State Senator Carole Migden (3rd District), a current Integrated Waste Management Board member, has been a longtime advocate of environmental issues. Ms. Migden will highlight the Board's past efforts to preserve California's fragile ecosystem by finding higher and better uses for our daily discards. Californians now divert 58 percent of their solid waste away from landfills and into higher-value recycled products.
Thursday, April 23
Candlestick Point Cleanup Site
1150 Carroll Ave.
San Francisco, CA
10 a.m.
Additional information is available if requested. Please contact Jeana Granico.
Sharp Park Hearing
April 30
1 pm
San Francisco City Hall
The Board of Supervisors will consider Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi’s proposed legislation to protect the endangered San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog at the City-owned Sharp Park and to ensure that future uses of the Park are compatible with protecting its natural resources. The goal of the Restore Sharp Park coalition is to turn out at least 300 members of the public to support the legislation. Please make time to join us because a show of public support will be essential to encourage the Board to pass the legislation.
Alemany Farm: One of the Top 5 SF Butterfly Hot Spots
From Liam O'Brien: "Thought I'd go check out [Alemany Farm] for the first time this season last Saturday. Breezy but beautiful 60 degree + weather. To my jaw-dropping amazement, I recorded half the butterfly fauna known from the county within two hours: Many things come together to draw butterflies to certain places: topography, host plants, nectar and water sources -- Alemany Farm seems to have them all.
| West Coast Lady (7) | Painted Ladies (28) | Monarch (2) |
| Gray Hairstreak (2) | Anise Swallowtail (2) | Cabbage White (24) |
| Gulf Fritillary (6) | California Tortoiseshell (1) | Field Crescent (3) |
| Red Admiral (14) | Buckeye ( 2) | Fiery Skipper (8) |
| Umber Skipper (1) | Mylitta Crescent (1) | Orange Sulphur (2) |
| Common Checkered Skipper (30) |
The Hooded Oriole, baby Gartner Snake and breeding Red-Winged Blackbirds just added to the magic of this fantastic day."
Sunday Streets Volunteers Needed!
Sunday Streets will bring physical activity space to San Francisco neighborhoods on six Sunday mornings in 2009, opening up miles of San Francisco streets for thousands of local families, kids and adults to walk, jog, and bike, as well as participate in group exercise.
The first two Sunday Streets are April 26 and May 10. Click here to sign up to volunteer and for more information.
Advocates Storm State Capital for Park Advocacy
California State Parks Foundation
 |
Student advocates CSPF |
"Hundreds of state park supporters traveled to the State Capitol to advocate for the protection and support of California's 278 state parks, particularly in light of the proposal to close 48 state parks and reduce lifeguard staffing on 16 state beaches. Participants met with policymakers to discuss the important issues facing state parks throughout California. A lively midday Save Our State Parks rally on the west steps of the Capitol was well attended and overall the day was wildly successful—it made a real impact on legislators, staff and others. Afternoon events culminated with presentations by Lt. Governor John Garamendi, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. The annual Legacy Awards Reception honored the California Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Christine Kehoe and Representative Susan Davis for their work on behalf of state parks."
See pictures and read more about the event here.
| Wednesday April 22 |
| Alcatraz Gardens Presidio Park Stewards @ Mountain Lake California Native Plant Society @ Grandview (15th Ave & Aloha) Redwood Creek Presidio Nursery |
| Thursday April 23 |
| Crissy Field Landscape Lands End Stewards |
| Friday April 24 |
| Alcatraz Gardens Presidio Plant Patrol @ Wherry Corridor |
| Saturday April 25 |
| Quail at Harding Park Alvord Lake Beautification Area A Landscape & Maintenance Presidio Park Stewards @ El Polin Fort Funston Corona Heights Grassland Lands End Stewards Presidio Nursery Redwood Creek Colma Creek |
| Sunday April 26 |
| Haight-Ashbury Native Plant Nursery |
For more information, contact info, and directions to natural areas go to the Community Calendar on the Nature in the City website.
Federal Regulators Deny Protection to California Fish
SF Gate
"Federal authorities say a fish that inhabits California's delta does not warrant protection on the federal endangered species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the announcement after a 12-month review of longfin smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The review was sought by environmental groups that say the fish population has plummeted to its lowest level in four decades."
Click here to read the full article.
 |
California Condor Chuck Szmurlo |
$40K Offered for Condor Shooter
Center for Biological Diversity
"To highlight the extreme importance of every single California condor in the wild -- and help bring a would-be killer to justice -- last week the Center announced the hiring of a private investigator to assist in efforts to apprehend the person or people responsible for shooting two endangered condors last month... In addition to hiring an investigator, the Center announced that the reward fund for help in apprehending the shooter or shooters is now at $40,500, thanks to generous pledges made by several groups (including the Center, the Wendy P. McGaw Foundation, and the Humane Society)."