The Conservation Committee serves as an umbrella organization over all of the issue committees. The Conservation Committee recommends conservation policy for the Chapter, identifies conservation priorities, and directs grassroots conservation activities. Specific conservation initiatives are undertaken by one of the issue committees. For example if you have an interest in a water issue, chances are that it will be addressed within the Water Committee. Similarly, our Forest Protection Committee works on issues that affect the health of our forests. Members can create committees for new issues as they arise.
If you have questions or are not certain where your issue might lie, please contact our Conservation Committee Chair. The Chair will be glad to direct you to the appropriate person to talk with, or perhaps assist you with starting up your own issue committee. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 pm at the Peninsula Conservation Center.
Contact our Chair, Gita Dev, for more information at: conservation*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
CONSERVATION FOCUS AREAS
To promote better air quality by monitoring the actions of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Recent actions by the Club have encouraged the District to be more protective of the emissions from the Santa Clara Valley.
Contact: Gary Latshaw glatshaw*gmail.com
Slowing climate disruption is a key priority for the Sierra Club and the Loma Prieta Chapter. Almost all of our efforts help slow climate disruption, from preserving open space to promoting transit oriented development in our cities. Our Climate Action Leadership Team (CALT) organizes and supports our Cool Cities' team efforts to limit climate disruption city by city within our region. To get involved,
Contact: John McKenna jemsd8*gmail.com
Coastal Issues
For good stewardship of all coastal resources, appropriate land use, adherence to the provisions of the California Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs, consistency with CEQA and other environmental laws, protection of endangered species and coastal wetlands.
Contact: Mike Ferreira michael.ferreira*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
For the preservation, protection, and restoration of the ecological integrity and native biodiversity of the forests of California, with efforts extending to include the forests of the United States and other regions of the world as appropriate, through education, advocacy, and political action. The Forest Protection Committee meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7 pm, at the Peninsula Conservation Center.
Contact: Karen Maki 650/366-0577 karenmaki*earthlink.net
For a moratorium on fracking in California until stronger regulations are adopted and stronger regulations on fracking within our Chapter's boundaries.
Contact: Mike Kerhin mikekerhin*gmail.com
The historic mission of the Sierra Club lies in the protection of imperiled open spaces either by protecting it from inappropriate development or supporting its acquisition and stewardship by public or private entities.
Contact: Conservation Committee Chair conservation*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
The Pacifica Team is a city-based educator, advocate, and collaborator on city plans affecting the fragile coast and hillsides. This can be achieved through close scrutiny of official planning documents, providing public comment, joining forces with like-minded organizations (e.g. One Shoreline, 350.org, Fossil Free CA). Promoting nature-based and long-term solutions will be a guiding principle.
Contact: Nancy Tierney nhtierney*gmail.com
To educate our community about optimum, least toxic methods of pest control and the laws which regulate pesticide use. This requires a basic understanding of how biological systems interact, of Integrated Pest Management, and of pesticides and how they work. To influence lawmakers and other decision-makers to recognize the essential nature of such methods. We are currently educating the public about the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) threat and methods of eradication or control.
Contact: Janet Hoffmann janet*hoffmann.net
The Plastics Pollution Prevention Team seeks to drastically reduce and ultimately remove unnecessary plastic products known to harm the environment and public health.
Contact: Susan Hinton susan.hinton*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
To promote creating walkable, climate-friendly neighborhoods which group new homes, jobs, and shops near transit stations and corridors to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (the largest source of emissions in the Bay Area) and reduce development pressure on our open space and agricultural lands. The Sustainable Land Use Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Contact: Gita Dev gd*devarchitects.com
To promote sustainable water supplies and sustainable water systems that are resilient to potential climate change impacts; support programs to change water conservation behavior and programs to incentivize the installation of efficient plumbing fixtures and water infrastructure; advocate for sensible laws, plans and programs that equitably balance water supply needs of cities, agriculture, and the environment; and respond to local issues related to these objectives. Current issues: Urban Water Management Plans, water efficiency, water recycling, grey water, water supply and desalination.
Contact: Conservation Committee Chair conservation*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
- We participate in policy making efforts and planning processes that affect wildlife in both urban environment and open space landscapes
- We Provide comments on environmental documents and advocate for adequate mitigation for the impacts that development projects impose on special status species, biological ecosystems, open space and agriculture.
- We work with other LPSC committees and building partnerships with other organizations to protect wildlife and habitat and to join advocacy efforts to protect and promote environmental legislation
Contact: Martha Schauss conservation*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
Special Category Committees
These committees have reporting and voting privileges at Cons Com, but are under the jurisdictional authority of other Chapter entities:
Our Bay Alive committee focuses on saving San Francisco Bay and is a 3-Chapter committee. The Bay Alive committee organizes educational seminars on bay ecology and bay life and trains people to engage in baylands protection. The committee also works with local governments on issues such as sea level rise and on Bay projects in order to minimize environmental harms arising from developments.
Contact: Susan Desjardin susan.t.desjardin*gmail.com
Education and Environmental Legislative Action (EELA)
Under the jurisdiction of our Political Committee, our EELA committee advocates for state and local climate and conservation legislation. At the beginning of each legislative season, we decide which state bills (usually from 4 to 6 bills) we will be focusing on from the list of approximately 20 to 30 bills on Sierra Club California’s Priority Bills list. We advocate for these “focus bills” by contacting legislators, making public comments at meetings, gathering petition signatures, writing op-eds and letters-to-the editor, and more. We also advocate for some key local ordinances, resolutions, and policies each year. If you are interested in legislative advocacy, whether at the state of local level, this is the committee you should consider joining.
Contact: Robin Montoya rob1buddy*yahoo.com
30x30 Committee: Conservation of 30 percent of Lands and Waters by 2030
30x30 responds directly to Governor Newsom’s nature-based solutions Executive Order N-82-20, which aims to accelerate conservation of California’s lands and coastal waters through voluntary, collaborative action with federal and local governments, Native American Tribes, and private landowners.
Contact: Mary Buxton mary.buxton*gmail.com