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Nature in the City NEWS
From the Director
Last week I experienced an acute episode of realizing that our message of community-based ecological stewardship is missing still, not only in the public-at-large, but also even within the environmental activist community. This realization repeats itself over and over again and in fact, was largely the justification for the Nature in the City Symposium at World Environment Day 2005.
Peter Berg of Planet Drum expresses eloquently that real sustainability must be grounded in a bioregionalist perspective whereby people are aware of and living in harmony with the natural systems of which we are all a part. But the broader environmental community seems to continue to limit the definition of sustainability to green buildings & technologies, recycling and clean energy.
The lack of attention to protecting and connecting with our city’s ecology is a function of our larger society’s fundamental and wholesale disconnection from nature. We have culturally evolved as a species to become totally separate, physically and psychologically, from the rest of nature. Most humans nowadays pretty much operate in the modern human realm as sort of a layer on top of the rest of nature, uncaringly and/or unknowingly exploiting the rest of the biosphere. We go about our daily lives without the slightest understanding of the nature and biodiversity all around us; including while performing all of the critical “green” tasks of installing solar panels, achieving zero waste, and closing the “ecological” loop, as it were.
“Green” and “ecological” are in quotes because well-meaning folks use the terms without any understanding of our local ecology, of the native plants, animals, and habitats that characterize San Francisco’s natural heritage. Inspired by the philosophy of bioregionalism, we at Nature in the City aim to demonstrate the way to break down the nature-culture dichotomy by physically, materially connecting people and nature where we live, everywhere.
When we physically re-inhabit the land, we derive mental, physical and spiritual health and well-being and a deepened sense of place and meaning in our lives, learning more intimately how we are interconnected with all other living things; we restore a more positive relationship of mutuality whereby local nature also benefits from our careful stewardship by becoming healthier and more abundant. Two weeks ago, we learned that the Green Hairstreak butterfly found its way to one of our brand new stewardship sites at 14th and Pacheco along the corridor between its two remaining populations in the Hawk Hill and Rocky Outcrop natural areas. We photographed an individual on a coast buckwheat - one of the two host plant species for the butterfly - that we planted between the streets!!
Re-creating healthy, positive relationships with nature is revolutionary, because it means rethinking how we live on the planet, globally, and in our own communities, neighborhoods and backyards. Evolving a new culture of community ecological stewardship is ecological sustainability. If we are to survive on this planet amidst natural beauty and abundance, we must learn how to recreate an actual physical, sustainable relationship with the rest of nature by taking care of the land and healing our ancient human-nature relationship, becoming, literally, part of the natural history of San Francisco. - Peter Brastow
TREKS Update
From NTC Stewardship Coordinator, Iris Clearwater
"Seven treks, and two to go, in a sparkling rush of people and places around the wilds of San Francisco. We have climbed the highest peaks - Mt. Davidson, Mt. Sutro, and Twin Peaks - and descended the steep riparian bluffs of Glen Canyon! Led by distinguished and passionate leaders of our ecological community, we learned about plants, birds, watersheds, corridors, wildflowers, butterflies, habitats and trails, in a mixture of local people as rich as our local ecology. Thanks to all of our fantastic participants and leaders! We welcome your ideas for what treks you would like to see and learn about in our FALL 2010 TREKS, and welcome you to join us for our two grand finales!"
SAT MAY 29 - GET OUT & GET DIRTY IN GOLDEN GATE PARK
Step into an enchanted world, meeting at Frog Hollow, the extraordinary Tree Frog Treks headquarters that is right out of a story book, to encounter all sorts of unique and friendly reptiles and amphibians. Then forge ahead into the ancient Oak Woodlands, seeking out scrub jays, ravens, brown towhees, rolly pollies and slender salamanders. Led by the kind and delightful wizard, Mr. Science himself, Chris Giorni. Rain or shine. Age 4 and up! RSVP NOW to reserve your spot!!
SAT JUNE 5 - Twin Peaks Bioregion & Eco-Corridor Sunset Trek (see below)
Butterflies in the City
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| Photo by Iris Clearwater |
1st Green Hairstreak Spotted at 14th & Pacheco!
On April 21, our Stewardship Coordinator, Iris Clearwater, along with volunteer stewards, spotted a Green Hairstreak for the very first time at 14th and Pacheco - one of our small corridor sites adopted through the San Francisco Parks Trust Street Parks program! The coast buckwheat at this site is about 2 years old now, perfect for butterfly breeding. It was such a cold and rainy 3 days, that it seems very likely that this butterfly could have been born (eclosed) here! For more photos of the Green Hairstreak Corridor, visit our Facebook page! And stay tuned for next month's newsletter for a report on next week's Green Hairstreak Festival at Hoover Middle School!!
Mission Blue on Twin Peaks on Earth Day, April 22
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| Photo by Amber Hasselbring |
"On April 22 at 11:05 am Amber Hasselbring photographed for me an adult male Mission Blue [federally listed endangered] on Mission Ridge, Twin Peaks -- just yards away from one of the tagged release lupines. We watched it nectar on Italian thistle, coastal buckwheat and a non-native geranium. This is our third visit for adult monitoring and our first sighting -- in between all the rains of April. More rain predicted for early next week, but clearly the beginning of eclosure in our relocated, San Francisco brood. Hard to imagine a better way to celebrate Earth Day!" - Liam O'Brien
Chalcedon Checkerspot on April 14 at Laguna Honda, its only San Francisco locale!
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| Photo by Amber Hasselbring | Photo by Amber Hasselbring |
Butterfly Count
Don't miss this year's 16th Annual San Francisco Butterfly Count on Monday, June 7th! Meet at the Randall Museum for a 9:00-5:00 one-day inventory of all the butterflies in our county. Amateurs and experts welcome! Click here for more information!
Nature in the City is Hiring!
Thanks to the San Francisco JOBS NOW! program, Nature in the City is hiring for two new positions! Job seekers must be eligible for ARRA Stimulus Funding to apply. Check out the position descriptions and give us a call if you have any questions!
* Stewardship Intern *
* Development Director & Fundraising Manager *
National Trails Day Events!
SATURDAY, JUNE 5th is NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
Discover new trails, help create the trails of your dreams, help to steward trails now, and learn about the nature that you'll see as you stroll!
9:00 AM - NOON  MT. SUTRO VOLUNTEER EXTRAVAGANZA Commemorating 4 years of Sutro Stewards volunteers building and maintaining trails and habitat, we will offer prizes to the first 70 participants and everyone will receive a free trail map, with info on Mt. Sutro's distinct wildflowers and history. The day will mark the first installation of trail markers at last! (Sponsored by the Rotary Club). Celebrate our work together with hot pizza and refreshing beverages. |
2:00 - 4:00 PM JACK LAWS' Pocket Guides to the San Francisco Bay Area RELEASE PARTY, Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park Grab a cupcake, sip lemonade, and have a chance to listen to the charismatic Jack Laws himself, as well as a handful of our favorite SF ecological organizations, including Nature in the City, of course! Click here for more info! |
3:00 - 7:00 PM  TWIN PEAKS BIOREGION & ECO-CORRIDOR SUNSET TREK Back by popular demand! Our last trek was sold out & had such a long waiting list, that Nature in the City Director, Peter Brastow, has agreed to lead this inaugural exploration of a continuous hiking trail across the city one more time! From native Coast Live Oaks of Golden Gate Park, over Mt Sutro, Twin Peaks, and down into Glen Canyon, discussing our rich natural heritage as we go. RSVP NOW to reserve your spot!! |
West End Soccer Fields To Get an EIR
SF Gate
The Recreation and Park Department decided on Friday to do an EIR for the Athletic Fields behind the Beach Chalet in the west end of Golden Gate Park! Golden Gate Audubon, Ocean Edge, and concerned citizens succeeded in their CEQA appeal. Stay tuned for further updates and check out the SF Gate, City Insider write up.
Sand Ladder Hanging Around
Thanks to the input of Nature in the City and other environmental organizations, the Baker Beach sand ladder in the Presidio will be staying put, for now. The National Park Service wanted to add a parallel pedestrian path right through endangered species habitat in order to accommodate wheelchairs and pedestrians away from Lincoln Boulevard. Thanks also to beach goers who voiced opposition to closure of the sand ladder, proposed by the Park as mitigation for routing a trail through rich native habitat. Read the SF Examiner article.
Saving Water in SF
One of our very generous donors turns out to be a hardcore water conservationist in addition to a Nature in the City advocate! Check out this short documentary of how she saves water and pick up some ideas for yourself!
A Bold & Much Needed Bill to Restore the Bay Ecosystem
SF Gate
Jackie Speier, leading supporter of retaining the Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica, as an alternative to restoring the coastal lagoon ecosystem, ironically, is leading the charge on a bold bill to restore the Bay ecosystem.
"The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010 by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, would fund the restoration of thousands of acres of bay marshes that were filled in or destroyed by levees and other projects in the last century." Read the full article here.
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| Photo by Rose Hillson |
Laurel Hill Playground Restoration!
April 17 marked the first workday at Laurel Hill Playground, home of mature (old-growth?) Ceaonothus thyrsislorus! Now this unique place has a community group dedicated to keeping these San Francisco natives alive and nurturing this site back to an historic botanical health!
Vote for McLaren Park by May 5!
Sears is sponsoring a nationwide online contest for a $30,000 Park Makeover. San Francisco's own McLaren Park was nominated and was recently selected as one of the 10 finalists! The park with the most votes wins! Log on to www.moregreenacrossamerica.com to vote by May 5!! Check out this write up in the City Insider from May 3!
More Eco NEWS
The Lure of the Creeks Buried Beneath San Francisco’s Streets
From SF Streets Blog
"San Francisco may be getting new waterfront soon, thanks to ambitious projects currently being studied by the city's Public Utilities Commission, including proposals for daylighting, or uncovering, long-buried creeks and streams and creating open-air channels that flow alongside the city's sidewalks and streets." Read more here!
State Parks Budget in Limbo Due to Gulf Coast Oil Spill?
California State Parks Foundation
"As you may remember, the Governor’s 2010-11 budget proposal released in January, included a proposal to eliminate core public funding for California's 278 state parks and replace it with uncertain funding from a yet-to-be approved offshore oil drilling project (the Tranquillon Ridge project).
Earlier today [May 3], the Governor stated that after seeing the devastation in the Gulf of Mexico, he no longer supports the offshore drilling project. With this withdrawal of the Tranquillon Ridge proposal, the Governor’s budget for 2010-11 contains no general funding for California’s state parks." Click here to read CSPF's official statement.
Seattle's Pollinator Pathway
Seattle, WA has developed an interesting natives corridor project, with similar goals to our Green Hairstreak Corridor project, but more extensive across the city. Check out their website here!
NYC Wildflower Week
Check out this great project in New York, involving botanical gardens, fairs, lectures and more, all to get New Yorker's to connect with nature where they live!!