Conservation happens on a spectrum. Often when we think about land conservation, we conjure up images of vast wilderness areas like those captured by Ansel Adams’ skilled lens. While these areas are critical to conservation, we need protected lands across the entire conservation spectrum to sustain biodiversity and people. These lands range from home gardens, urban parks and county parks, all the way to national forests and wilderness areas. When connected, these spaces create a tapestry supporting a diversity of plant and animal species and a broad range of people, too. It may surprise members of the community that agricultural lands can be an important component of this tapestry as well.
On Nov. 13, organizations working toward the larger goals of regional conservation and a thriving community came together at Ya’i Heki’ Regional Indian Museum in Perris. The Northern San Jacinto Valley Region Symposium brought stakeholders together to share and learn about the importance of the San Jacinto Valley from various perspectives with the goal of encouraging alliances to advance the protection of the region.
The symposium was co-sponsored by the California Native Plant Society, Riverside-San Bernardino Chapter, or CNPS-RSB, and University of California Cooperative Extension, or UCCE. The symposium was coordinated by CNPS-RSB, UCCE, San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society, Sierra Club, San Gorgonio Chapter, Rivers & Lands Conservancy, Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley, San Jacinto Basin Resource Conservation District, California State Parks, and Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District.
The Northern San Jacinto Valley region includes two important natural areas open to the public. Lake Perris State Recreational Area spans over 8,800 acres. San Jacinto Wildlife Area, or SJWA, covers about 19,000 acres and is a hotspot of avian biodiversity and is internationally renowned for migratory bird viewing. These two areas and their surrounds support at least 50 unique, rare, threatened, or endangered habitats, plants, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
Attendees at the symposium represented a range of interests and priorities in the region. This included community groups, agricultural groups, non-profit organizations, land conservancies, government agencies, planning departments, local politicians, state and county parks, educators, consultants, and more.
Presentation topics included the unique biology, community, and culture of the valley; conserving critical avian and sensitive species populations; expanding connectivity of habitats for climate resilience; the importance of agriculture and cultural diversity; improving access for all to connect with nature; fostering alliances for more inclusive strategic planning; and seeking opportunities for funding.
The agricultural lands that surround SJWA were a topic as attendees learned more about their potential in conservation strategies. Agricultural lands can provide foraging habitat and other resources for wildlife if purposely operated and managed for wintering raptors, mountain plovers and nesting tricolored blackbirds, according to presenter Anthony Metcalf, a biology professor at Cal State San Bernardino.
“Conservation of the San Jacinto Valley is vitally important to connecting core habitat areas identified in the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan and completing critical wildlife corridors of the South Coast Missing Linkages Project,” said Nicole Padron, co-executive director of Rivers & Lands Conservancy. “Furthermore, it represents the last chance to conserve one of the largest remaining assemblages of prime and important farmland in the Inland Empire.”
While a change in the national administration may lead to less support for conservation, on Nov. 5, California voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond to protect water quality, prevent wildfires and their impacts, and conserve biodiversity. This multi-faceted climate and natural resources bond stands to bolster the work of Rivers & Lands Conservancy and our partners in the Inland Empire. The bond includes $1.2 billion to preserve wildlife habitats and for the implementation of nature-based solutions to climate change along with $700 million for park creation and outdoor access programs. Another facet of the bond dedicates $300 million to support sustainable agricultural practices. Working together, we can present a strong case for the Inland Empire to receive its fair share of this support.
There is a tremendous amount of work to be done in ensuring the resources in our region remain for future generations, but the task is less daunting with partners. Rivers & Lands Conservancy is heartened by the possibility of funding through Proposition 4, and how much more we might achieve working together. While each organization and agency has its own focus in the much larger picture of a thriving region, our solutions are stronger when we learn from and lean on each other.
Rivers & Lands Conservancy connects our community to natural, wild, and open spaces of Southern California through land conservation, stewardship, and education.
Rebecca K. O’Connor is the co-executive director of Rivers & Lands Conservancy, a 2023 California Arts Council fellow, the author of several books on the natural world and writes about nature on her Substack at writtenbird.com.
