In many of California's
bioregions, the great richness of our state's natural diversity
is obvious to all. Where majestic trees tower above snowy peaks
in the Sierra Nevada, when flocks of waterfowl migrate up and
down the Central Valley, or where pristine beaches greet rolling
oceans that are abundant with marine life - in these instances
our attention is captured, making it easy for us to understand
the need to protect and properly manage whole natural systems.
California, however, is also a highly urbanized state where the ecological wealth is not always evident or accessible. And while biological diversity is not limited to areas of scenic beauty or resources of economic importance it is every where, even vacant lots and trash-strewn marshes there are thousands of Californians who do not have regular exposure to or appreciation of biodiversity.
Nowhere is this probably more the case than in Southern California, home to approximately two-thirds of the state's 32 million people. Thus, the need to capture and maximize those remaining opportunities for healthy Southern California wild life and habitat is particularly great.
No single agency, jurisdiction, or law is capable of fully and successfully meeting the challenge of protecting and managing these resources. It is, thus, essential that conservation efforts in Southern California be especially made in an integrated manner based on cooperative partnerships and the integrity of entire ecosystems. The mission of the Executive Council, in turn, takes on a special urgency. And the continuing work of members of the Council in several areas is auspicious.
Along the Southern California coast, where urbanization has caused extensive decline in the coastal sage scrub habitat of the California Gnatcatcher and numerous other species, several of our member agencies have collaborated in launching and guiding an unprecedented partnership to protect and manage the habitat. The Natural Communities Conservation Planning (NCCP) program as an umbrella for several local efforts holds promise as a model for future ecosystem planning in California and across the nation.
At those sites where significant coastal wetlands remain - like Bolsa Chica in Orange County, Ballona wetlands near Los Angeles International Airport, and San Diego's Batiquitos Lagoon - we are also charting new, cooperative ways to save, restore, and increase these vital estuarine resources. Implementation of Governor Wilson's comprehensive wetlands policy is based on and necessitates collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, local governments, and, importantly, private interests.
The Council's December meeting in San Diego emphasizes its commitment to Southern California and the essential importance of stewardship of the region's unique biological diversity.
Douglas P. Wheeler is California's Secretary for Resources.