By Susan Lewitt
Private native garden from the CNPS Native Garden Tour in North County. Photo credit: Susan Lewitt
In the distant past, the earth was brimming with countless species in diverse habitats, including lush forests, sparkling grasslands, and waterways teeming with life. Later, a new species evolved, one that was a bit more inventive and adaptable than most others. This species started making changes that would help it survive, flourish beyond measure, increase beyond necessity, and put many other life forms in peril. This species, of course, was us.
There have been extinction events before humans graced this planet. The world had many periods of instability until our planet settled into the climate patterns we rely on today. Unfortunately, we humans are changing the world, causing it to shift away from the consistency we have known. This puts more plants and animals, including humanity, at risk of extinction. How?
Humans are putting the world in peril by wastefully overusing resources, not being mindful of conditions we are creating, overdeveloping land without regard for consequences, and prioritizing wealth over true needs of health and well-being. Our activities since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution have added increasing amounts of greenhouse gases to the thin protective atmosphere surrounding our planet. “While the US has some of the world’s strongest environmental policies, its species, ecosystems, and natural spaces are in rapid decline. About 12,000 wildlife species are in need of protection to avoid the threat of extinction. …Nature in America is in trouble…” (Jones B. “The Biden administration has a game-changing approach to nature conservation”;
https://www.vox.com/2021/5/7/22423139/biden-30-by-30-conservation-initiative-historic. May 7, 2021.)
Other threats, especially to biodiversity, are invasive species. Some of these have been purposely introduced through agriculture and horticulture, and others have landed in novel places purely by accident. Some are non-natural hybrids not found in nature, and others are natives from distant lands. These alien species escape cultivation, crowd out native species, and take over natural spaces, sometimes forming monocultures. Can we change this? If so, how?
The 30x30 initiative – called “America the Beautiful” – can make a significant difference. The term “30x30” refers to the efforts by several countries to have 30% of planet Earth protected in an indigenous natural state by 2030. This would give all species, including those that are threatened and endangered, a chance to thrive. Our planet and its life forms depend on biodiversity to survive, which would be ensured by most of the world’s leading countries pledging action regarding 30x30. This goal would just be a step on the way to the even more effective goal of having 50% of our planet protected as soon as possible.
You – as a person involved with CNPS, nature, and native plants – can contribute to this goal. There are many ways to make a difference. Just by dedicating at least 30% of your garden to native plants, you can contribute to stabilizing biodiversity in San Diego and supporting San Diego as a biodiversity hot spot. Also, if you are remodeling or building a new home, you can extend the area of your green space by planning a rooftop native garden. Even if you are not redesigning your home, you can research rooftop gardens to see if that works for your property. For more information on rooftop gardens, check out “All About Rooftop Gardening” at:
https://www.thespruce.com/rooftop-gardening-1403340.
Other helpful actions include encouraging your local schools and businesses to plant native gardens in bare areas, especially those that are underutilized. You may also contact your congressional leaders and our President to ask them to support converting more land into protected natural spaces. The most effective way to contact the White House is by handwriting a letter containing only one subject. Send it to President Joe Biden, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500.
Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, said “30 percent is the beginning. It’s setting a very strong foundation and we hope [it] will build the momentum for longer-term conservation to benefit current and future generations.” (https://www.vox.com/2021/5/7/22423139/biden-30-by-30-conservation-initiative-historic). The ideal would be to have 100% native plants in protected areas to support local biodiversity and slow down or prevent extinction, but biodiversity can be preserved by protecting 50% of our planet Earth. There will always be those who long for exotic plants. We just must make sure that a reasonable portion of the land supports what really belongs here. For those of you who take this pledge and start or continue using native plants in your garden, keep in mind that it only takes a garden of 70% native plants to qualify for the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) San Diego chapter’s Native Garden Tour. Let’s get planning, planting, and preserving our world and our health. For a short video explaining more about 30x30 and to sign the pledge to help, please go to: https://inthistogetheramerica.org/30x30-pledge/.
California has its own initiative – 30x30 California – that includes protecting the biodiversity of our land areas and our coastal waters. The following links will provide you a further understanding of California’s goals and the need for 30x30 and the biodiversity that this initiative supports: https://www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/30x30 and http://biodiversity.ca.gov/our-biodiversity/
According to Albert Lundeen, Media Relations Manager of the California Natural Resources Agency, Governor Gavin Newsom advanced nature’s part in combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and prioritizing conservation by signing Executive Order N-82-20, Nature Based Solutions, in October 2020. The 30x30 California goals include pledging to protect California’s distinctive biodiversity and improving access to nature for everyone, along with recreation upgrades. Increasing natural spaces would sequester more carbon and help protect California from climate change. Through the efforts of the California Natural Resources Agency, more than 7,000 opinions have been gathered to help outline how to accomplish this program using 10 methods, including easements, acquisitions, enhancing conservation on Federal lands, and helping communities improve conservation. There will be a finalized document in the spring identifying the crucial steps with the aim of being completed over an 18-month period.
With the right efforts and support, 30x30 is attainable and will enhance the living quality of our state, our country, and our world. And it is just a start!
(A modified version of this article was originally published on December 1, 2021, in the San Diego Horticultural Society’s newsletter.)