Biologists tell us we’re in a global crisis for biodiversity, as countless species of animals and plants could be extinct in 50 to 100 years—unless we drastically change our sprawling land use and protect far more wild habitat; probably at least “Half Earth” is needed as places where nature can dominate. Aiming for 30 percent over the next decade is seen as an achievable “stepping stone” toward an eventual 50 percent—called “Nature Needs Half”. The Sierra Club has joined the global Nature Needs Half initiative.
We need to preserve Nature so that Nature can preserve us – as, truly, Nature is our support system.
California became the first state to adopt “30 by 30” as official state policy, in an October 2020 Executive Order by Governor Gavin Newsom. And in January 2021, a week after his inauguration, President Biden gave a national 30 by 30 executive order—his program is dubbed “America the Beautiful.”
In addition to fighting species extinction, “30 by 30” directly addresses climate change: protecting natural lands enhances the carbon sequestration ability of lands and waters – whether unlogged forests, undisturbed desert soils, grasslands, or marine habitats.
Thus, 30 by 30 connects the fight for biodiversity and the fight to mitigate the climate crisis. Sierra Club volunteers and staff have long pushed both these goals, and now 30 by 30 embraces both and ties them together.
At present some 12 percent of the nation and about 22 percent of California (with more than average protected public lands) is considered “conserved”. (More next issue on defining “conserved”.)
To work with the state of California and assure its new policy will result in real positive action with significant conservation gains, Sierra Club in California set up the “California 30 by 30 task force”—with representatives from most of our Chapters. The Chapters have also identified local places important to them for conservation.
A local conservation priority in our Group is -- Climate Change. We're starting up a Climate Change Committee. Questions? Contact Magi Amma: magi AT hippocampus.com
What about you? Get involved in your Chapter by contacting Anne Henny or Vicky Hoover, co-chairs of the statewide task force at anneth16@sbcglobal.net or Vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org.)