Environmental Conservation in the San Diego Region...2San Diego Natural History Museum and...
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Environmental Conservation With a varied landscape defined by scenic coastlines, majestic mountains, bucolic grasslands, and dazzling deserts carpeted with wildflowers, the San Diego region is a top biodiversity hotspot in North America and in the world. The region also is a leader in environmental conservation. Local, state, and federal agencies, along with nonprofit and private organizations, are working in concert to preserve half of the region (about 1.4 million acres) as permanent open space by 2050. SANDAG plays an important role in preserving open space and habitat through the Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) funded by TransNet, the San Diego region’s half-cent sales tax for transportation. The EMP funds habitat acquisition, land management, scientific research, and environmental restoration countywide. Environmental Conservation in the San Diego Region February 2016 EMP Accomplishments 36 sites preserved 6,533 acres preserved $150 million invested in open space acquisitions (including funding leveraged from conservation partners) 81 land management grants totaling $12.8 million awarded to local organizations Mission Bay Park 4,600 acres City of Solana Beach 2,253 acres Most Biologically Rich County Although relatively small, San Diego County is the most biologically rich county in the continental United States, and California is one of the top ten most biodiverse areas on earth. 1 515 species of birds countywide 662 species statewide 2 2,672 species of plants countywide 7,600 species statewide 3 115 species of mammals countywide 226 species statewide 4 How big is 6,533 acres? Acres preserved by TransNet EMP 6,533 acres San Diego Sources: 1 The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International 2 San Diego Natural History Museum and California Bird Records Committee 3 San Diego Natural History Museum and The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, 2 nd Edition. Counts include subspecies and varieties 4 San Diego Natural History Museum and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife San Diego Zoo 100 acres
Transcript of Environmental Conservation in the San Diego Region...2San Diego Natural History Museum and...
Environmental ConservationWith a varied landscape defined by scenic coastlines, majestic mountains, bucolic grasslands, and dazzling deserts carpeted with wildflowers, the San Diego region is a top biodiversity hotspot in North America and in the world. The region also is a leader in environmental conservation. Local, state, and federal agencies, along with nonprofit and private organizations, are working in concert to preserve half of the region (about 1.4 million acres) as permanent open space by 2050. SANDAG plays an important role in preserving open space and habitat through the Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) funded by TransNet, the San Diego region’s half-cent sales tax for transportation. The EMP funds habitat acquisition, land management, scientific research, and environmental restoration countywide.
Environmental Conservation in the San Diego Region
February 2016
EMP Accomplishments
36 sites preserved
6,533 acres preserved
$150 million invested in open space acquisitions (including funding leveraged from conservation partners)
81 land management grants totaling $12.8 million awarded to local organizations
Mission Bay Park4,600 acres
City of Solana Beach2,253 acres
Most Biologically Rich CountyAlthough relatively small, San Diego County is the most biologically rich county in the continental United States, and California is one of the top ten most biodiverse areas on earth.1
515 species of birds countywide
662 species statewide2
2,672 species of plants countywide
7,600 species statewide3
115 species of mammals countywide
226 species statewide4
How big is 6,533 acres?
Acres preserved by TransNet EMP6,533 acres
San Diego
Sources: 1The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International2San Diego Natural History Museum and California Bird Records Committee3San Diego Natural History Museum and The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, 2nd Edition. Counts include subspecies and varieties4San Diego Natural History Museum and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
San Diego Zoo100 acres
Environmental Conservation in the San Diego Region
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MEXICOUNITED STATES
Orange County
Riverside County
Imp
erial Co
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ty
Source: AECOM 2014, SANDAG 1997
Coastal Sage Scrub
Coastal Wetlands / Beach
Coniferous Forest
Desert Chaparral
Desert Dunes / Badlands
Desert Scrub
Grassland
Oak Forest
Other Wetlands
Other Woodlands
Riparian
Water
Urban, Disturbed Habitat,Agriculture, Eucalyptus Woodlands
Chaparral
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The larger map below illustrates the extraordinary diversity of vegetation communities found in San Diego County. The smaller map shows habitat conserved to date and habitat proposed for conservation. Current land use plans adopted by the region’s 18 city councils and the County Board of Supervisors envision 55 percent of the land countywide, or 1,418,227 acres, as preserved open space in the future. Open space is defined as habitat, farmland, parks, beaches, and undevelopable natural areas.
San Diego Regional Generalized VegetationOctober 2015
San Diego Regional Habitat Preserved LandsOctober 2015
Conserved Habitat Lands
Proposed Conserved Habitat Lands
For more information, call (619) 699-1950 or email: [email protected]
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