At the recent program hosted by Sierra Sage Presents, Angeles Chapter Director Juanita Chavez delivered opening remarks to welcome participants and speakers on the topic of Protecting Imperiled Species. Her address set a positive and engaging tone for the evening, emphasizing the importance of community, collaboration, and the shared mission of environmental stewardship. Attendees were greeted warmly, and Chavez expressed her appreciation for their commitment to the chapter’s goals and initiatives.
Beneath Southern California’s sun-drenched surface lies a complex tapestry of life – one of the world’s most biologically diverse and imperiled ecoregions. Well-designed crossings serve as a vital lifeline for imperiled species, ensuring their survival and enriching the community’s living ecosystems. By blending habitat restoration, scientific research, and passionate advocacy, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing demonstrates how urban areas can coexist harmoniously with the natural world.
Keynote speakers Celina Oliveri and Frances Appiah, both Caltrans wildlife biologists, offered new information on the progress of this crossing and showed the important flora, fauna and pollinators that contribute to the health of native plants. Despite the abundance of the region, more than 200 species depend on the habitat connectivity of this massive undertaking that will soon protect LA’s native wildlife and over 300,000 drivers daily.
Many of us cheered and purred in October when Caltrans announced that the first plants were put in the soil. There will be approximately 5,000 native plants along the crossing when completed. The foliage and infrastructure will serve as a much-needed environmental boost by providing wildlife with a safe path over the freeway while also minimizing interactions with humans.
Similarly, Norm Grossman, president of the Laguna Greenbelt presented the history of the Irvine-Laguna Wildlife Corridor that is designed to link the coastal and mountain habitats of Orange County but needs to be properly buffered from development. “Too much noise, light and the intrusion of people and their pets will make wild animals and birds less like to use the corridor.” The current 22,000 acres of the south coast wilderness is a biological island, in danger of losing species due to a lack of genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation.
Participants visited with leaders from Laguna Greenbelt, Inc., Cheetah Conservation Fund, Save LA Cougars, Naturalist for You, Angeles Chapter Sierra Club and Sierra Sage of South Orange County, who enjoyed collaborating on safeguarding biodiversity through habitat preservation and community engagement.
Story by Linda Pauer