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. ConsCom meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM via Zoom and is open to members. 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 at: conservation*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
Chair: Gladwyn d'Souza conservation*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
REGIONAL GROUP REPRESENTATION:
SAN CARLOS BELMONT- Paul Wendt paulw.2ndbass*gmail.com
PENINSULA- Mike Ferreira or Sue Chow sue2042*gmail.com
GUADALUPE- Lisa Barbosa
THE CONSERVATION ISSUE COMMITTEES ARE GIVEN BELOW:
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
To promote better air quality by monitoring the actions of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Advocate for ultra low emissions zones, reduction in fossil fuel use, and trees within vegetative highway barriers to protect adjacent communities from pollution. The list of quality-of-life indicators that worsen or decline as the presence of trees declines is long — health conditions from heat stroke to asthma, outdoor activity, air pollution, flooding and chemicals from stormwater run-off, energy costs and home values among them. The most vulnerable are hardest hit: children, the elderly and pregnant women.
Contact: Daniel Shane shanedan18*outlook.com
Climate Action Leadership Team
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) is working on ensuring that Climate Action Plans are robust and will deliver on targets and goals. To get involved contact the co-chairs:
Contact: Kristel Wickham kristel*timetodream.com and John McKenna jemsd8*gmail.com
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: Harvey Rarback harvey.rarback*lomaprieta.sierraclub.org or Mike Ferreira michaeljferreira*gmail.com
Developing policy and programs to support urban agriculture and community gardens as approved land use in city general and specific plans and exploring opportunities to improve our food literacy. Food is the number one of climate change through changing carbon sinks for agriculture especially meat. This group asks cities to add and treat community gardens like pocket parks as way of reducing runoff and critical corridors for wildlife, birds, and pollinators.
Contact: Nancy Lacsamana nlacsamana230*gmail.com Gladwyn D'Souza godsouza*mac.com
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.
Inactive
Oceans
To advocate for oceans as a critical component of the biosphere. Wildlife, food, and the climate intersect with trade, recreation, and urban and agricultural runoff to degrade the marine environment endangering critical ecosystem services. To influence lawmakers to recognize the need for managed retreat, ending fossil fuels use, and replenishing fish stocks through expansion of Marine Protected Areas and other forms of conservation. Currently aligned with 30x30, Food, and Transportation.
Contact: Ed Larenas surfdoggie*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 and ensuring county and city parks and recreation departments protect natural resources and safe public access.
Sabrina Brennan sabrina@dfm.com
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.
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 Soils Committee is now part of the food committee. The mission of the Soils Committee is to protect and regenerate healthy soils through education, advocacy, and political action. Healthy soils reduce atmospheric CO2 levels through sequestration of the carbon within organic matter, improve drought resistance through increased water retention, reduce erosion, improve nutrients in food, and support biodiversity that sustains life on this planet.
Combined with Food
Promote creating walkable, climate-friendly equitable neighborhoods which groups new homes, jobs, and shops near quality 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. Grow up not out. The Sustainable Land Use Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Contact: Gita Dev gd*devarchitects.com or Nina Goodale nina.goodale111*gmail.com
To promote the most cost-effective, equitable, least polluting, and least sprawl-inducing transportation systems possible. Special attention needs to be given to rectifying the imbalance between the resources devoted to automotive transport, and other modes, specifically, bicycle, pedestrian, and mass transit.
Contact: Nathan Chan chan.nathan.th*gmail.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, greywater, water supply, and desalination.
Contact: Katja Irvin katja.irvin*sbcglobal.net
- We participate in policymaking 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
CONSERVATION FOCUS AREAS
Conservation Public Comment Letters Sent