The Nature Conservancy in California

Santa Cruz Island is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals. Life is found from the island's high peaks to its deep canyons and its 77 miles of pristine coastline. But when TNC purchased the island in 1978, native species were on the brink of extinction.

TNC is using science-based restoration programs to restore the island’s natural balance and the communities of native species that prospered there for millennia. Using a grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we will be advancing the eradication of invasive Argentine ants that have plagued Santa Cruz Island for more than six decades and displaced native species. Once given the space, native ant populations will reestablish their important ecosystem roles - stay tuned!

Read more: https://nature.ly/3XzBxEx.

📸 Stephen Francis Photography

The Santa Clara River Preserve is currently CLOSED from 9/19-9/24. Unfortunately, the Coastal Cleanup Day on 9/21 has been cancelled. We encourage you to look at other events taking place throughout California.

Please follow the Santa Clara River Preserve page for updated information: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/the-nature-conservancy-in-california-santa-clara-river-california-con/?en_txn1=bl.ch_ca.eg.x.g.

Our state can’t afford to keep cleaning up one disaster after the next 🚨 The time to invest is now. Prop 4 is essential to ensure clean drinking water and clean air for California and prevent the worst effects of wildfires, floods and droughts.

Proposition 4 would borrow $10B to respond to climate change Dozens of groups are backing the measure

Nine sihek (Guam kingfisher) chicks are living in the wild for the first time since the 1980s at TNC’s Palmyra Atoll Preserve and Research Station. Palmyra is one of the healthiest land and ocean ecosystems on the planet, thanks to decades of protection and restoration by TNC and our partners.

This predator-free atoll, with its abundant forest canopy and prey, offers these once extinct-in-the-wild birds a perfect home. Our nearly 25-year investment in developing a living laboratory at Palmyra is benefiting both species like the sihek and biodiversity as a whole. This project would not be possible without the hard work of the many partners of the Sihek Recovery Project including .dawr, many especially , , , , and .

➡️ Follow for regular updates from the chicks.

📰 Read more in this Washington Post article via link in stories.

Nine sihek (Guam kingfisher) chicks are living in the wild for the first time since the 1980s at TNC's Palmyra Atoll Preserve and Research Station. Palmyra is one of the healthiest land and ocean ecosystems on the planet, thanks to decades of protection and restoration by TNC and our partners.

This predator-free atoll, with its abundant forest canopy and prey, offers these once extinct-in-the-wild birds a perfect home. Our nearly 25-year investment in developing a living laboratory at Palmyra is benefiting both species like the sihek and biodiversity as a whole. This project would not be possible without the hard work of the many partners of the Sihek Recovery Project including Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, many from The Association of Zoos and Aquariums especially Sedgwick County Zoo, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii and Palmyra, The Nature Conservancy in California, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and ZSL.

Read more in this Washington Post article: https://nature.ly/47uNaRO.

These birds are almost extinct. A radical idea could save them. As habitats disappear, biologists are trying to find new homes for birds like the Guam kingfisher and other animals beyond their native habitats.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this event has been canceled. Please check in with the California Coastal Cleanup Day website for other locations near you.

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Are you ready for ? 🌊🐚🌎

Join The Nature Conservancy at the Santa Clara River Preserve Gateway for a day of volunteering:
🗓️ Saturday, September 21st
⏰ 9am-12 pm
📋 To get to the sign-in table, please cross Northbank Dr. and walk down Johnson Dr. past The Willows apartment complex. There will be signs guiding you to the cleanup location.
🐠 Participants ages 16+ are welcome to attend
🦈 Please park in the Anytime Fitness parking lot

What to bring with you:
🌞 Sun protection
👟 Closed-toed shoes
👖 Pants

If you are unable to make this location, please check the California Coastal Cleanup Day website for a location near you.

📸 Erin Feinblatt

Are you ready for ? 🌊🐚🌎

Join The Nature Conservancy at the Santa Clara River Preserve Gateway for a day of volunteering:
🗓️ Saturday, September 21st
⏰ 9am-12 pm
📋 To get to the sign-in table, please cross Northbank Dr. and walk down Johnson Dr. past The Willows apartment complex. There will be signs guiding you to the cleanup location.
🐠 Participants ages 16+ are welcome to attend
🦈 Please park in the Anytime Fitness parking lot

What to bring with you:
🌞 Sun protection
👟 Closed-toed shoes
👖 Pants

If you are unable to make this location, please check the California Coastal Cleanup Day website or for a location near you.

📸 Erin Feinblatt

Rewilding California with 1 Million Strong for Native Olympia Oysters 🦪

Did you know the Olympia oyster, California’s native oyster, plays a vital role in our estuaries and bays? These small but mighty oysters filter water, reduce nitrogen pollution, slow coastal erosion, and create habitats for hundreds of other species.

Sadly, overharvesting and pollution have left the Olympia oyster functionally extinct, with only 1% of its historical population remaining.

There is hope, TNC is working to restore these vital ecosystems by collaborating with partners like Moss Landing Marine Labs and Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve. Together, we’re testing new methods to make oyster restoration more effective.

One exciting technique we’re trying is called remote setting. This process allows us to grow oysters in controlled conditions, then move them to natural habitats where they can thrive. Right now, we’re running the first-ever trial of this technique for Olympia oysters in California, starting with 1 million larvae! 🦪 If successful, this could transform how we restore oysters across the coast.

Learn more about our rewilding work here: https://nature.ly/3XI9DaL.

📸: © Phoebe Racine

After nearly 60 years, the rare Saints' Daisy has been rediscovered on Santa Cruz Island. John Knapp, Senior Island Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, highlights the significance of this find: it's a strong indicator that efforts to reverse two centuries of human-caused environmental damage on the Channel Islands are making a difference.

Read the full story from KCLU Radio: https://nature.ly/4epgXxn.

Some thought it was extinct, but researchers rediscover plant last seen in Channel Islands in 1965 Researchers say find has big implications. It's another sign efforts to reverse two centuries of man-made environmental damage in the islands are working.

Teachers – Are you planning on building a school garden this year?

Gardens serve as a great home for plants and neighboring critters, which contribute to the health of your local environment. Creating a school garden can teach your students about how to care for living things while creating opportunities for community engagement at your school.

Use Nature Lab's resources for building a school garden to learn how to plan, build and care for a garden with your students: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/how-we-work/youth-engagement/nature-lab/school-garden-resources/?en_txn1=s_p.lab.x.x.Sept.Social.Toolkit.


📸 © Devan King/TNC

After nearly 60 years, the rare Saints’ Daisy has been rediscovered on Santa Cruz Island. John Knapp, Senior Island Scientist with , highlights the significance of this find: it’s a strong indicator that efforts to reverse two centuries of human-caused environmental damage on the Channel Islands are making a difference.

Read the full story from via link in bio 🔗

Sihek land at TNC’s Palmyra Atoll Preserve and Research Station! 🛬🪽🏝

After decades of care by expert bird keepers, extinct-in-the-wild sihek (Guam kingfisher) are being introduced to Palmyra Atoll. Palmyra will act as a temporary home to build their numbers and breed in the wild until they can be reintroduced to a snake-free Guåhan (Guam); their home.

This ambitious project is possible in part thanks to Palmyra Atoll being so well protected and predator-free, making it one of the few places in the world that is viable for wild introductions.

“These beautiful birds haven’t sung in the forests of Guam for more than 30 years, but this exciting moment [is] a pivotal step toward the eventual reintroduction of this stunning creature to Islan Guåhan.” Yolonda Topasna, Guam Dept. of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources.

Learn more about the efforts underway to return sihek to the wild here:
https://nature.ly/3Zh2Fux

📸: Thomas Mangolna/KUAM, ZSL, Graeme Gale

Wetlands are nature’s superheroes-- they filter water, shield inland areas, and reduce the risk of coastal flooding. The Nature Conservancy is thrilled to partner with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to conserve and restore tidal wetlands at the Pajaro River Estuary. This project will boost coastal wetland habitat by 40% in Santa Cruz County, creating a stronger, more resilient coast. 🌊💧

Read more about this exciting initiative: https://nature.ly/3XlnClp.

New project could revive Santa Cruz wetlands in effort to fight flooding In recent years, storms have battered the California coast, flooding vulnerable communities, as the threat of sea level rise puts more infrastructure including homes and businesses at risk. A project in Santa Cruz County is trying to address the impact of levee breaches and flooding.

Ever wonder about that persistent tree that keeps popping up in your yard? 🌳 John Knapp, Senior Island Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy, talks to LAist about invasive species and why the Tree of Heaven is causing concern for LA gardeners.

Check out the full story here: https://nature.ly/3ZhoXMv.

Why Tree of Heaven strikes terror in the hearts of LA gardeners The tree can grow up to 90 feet, and it is pretty much public enemy #1 to arborists and botanists.

"Beyond the Shell" takes you on a journey through the rich history and deep cultural significance of the abalone in Native American traditions. Discover the connection between a scarce marine treasure and the people who have revered it for generations 🦪.

Watch now on PBS:

ViewFinder | Beyond the Shell | Season 31 | Episode 1 | PBS A look at the history and Native American culture around the abalone.

What is your personal connection to salmon? From nourishment to culture, our lives and ecosystems are interwoven with salmon. As we work to help them recover, we save ourselves as well.

➡️ Learn more by visiting Nature.org/MadeOfSalmon

➡️ Join us for a special virtual presentation about California's native salmon populations by The Nature Conservancy in California. Register for free, here: https://nature.ly/3AY9XZP.

Kelp forests around the world are in serious decline due to various factors. TNC's Kelp Project Director, Tristin Anoush McHugh, emphasizes the urgent need for active restoration efforts.

A recent The Oregonian article highlights global kelp restoration initiatives, including the world's largest and most ambitious effort in South Korea, which has a $29 million annual budget and aims to restore 123,500 acres of kelp forest by 2030.

📰 Read more:

Does kelp restoration work? Kelp forests have declined across the world and governments, organizations and businesses are mounting efforts to restore 9 million acres of kelp globally by 2040.

Expanding land connectivity through wildlife crossings is essential for the survival of our wildlife 🐾. We're thrilled to collaborate with California Natural Resources Agency, Caltrans HQ, and Beth Pratt to pioneer effective wildlife corridors that will connect and expand vital habitats.

It’s , and at TNC, we understand that when nature doesn’t have enough clean water, it’s only a matter of time before people don’t either. 💧

This week, TNC's Plastics Project Director, Patrick Jurney, is representing us on the World Water Week conference panel, “Microfiber Pollution: Tackling the Hidden Threat to Our Water.” Microfiber pollution is an emerging threat to our global water supply, impacting ecosystems and communities worldwide. The panel will discuss cutting-edge strategies the fashion industry can adopt to curb microfiber emissions across the supply chain.

Stay tuned for insights from this important discussion as we continue to push for solutions that protect our planet’s most vital resource. Together, we can drive change for a sustainable future. https://nature.ly/3MlkvoA

We're taking bold steps to protect and restore California’s vital kelp forests. As highlighted in a recent Civil Eats article, these underwater forests are essential for marine biodiversity, coastal protection, and carbon sequestration—but they’re under threat from climate change and human activities.

Rescuing Kelp Through Science Breakthrough genetic research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute could save the world’s vanishing kelp forests—and support American kelp farming, too.

Hidden beneath the surface of our coastal seas are towering forests - of kelp. These underwater ecosystems are as crucial to our environment as their land-based counterparts.

The Nature Conservancy's Tristin Anoush McHugh, Kelp Project Director, takes a dive with PBS Terra to explore how science and restoration are coming together to rescue our kelp forests.

How Otters Are Saving Earth’s Underwater Forests Hidden beneath the surface of our coastal seas are towering forests - of kelp. These underwater ecosystems are as crucial to our environment as their land-ba...

Proposition 4 will be on the 2024 November ballot this fall. is a climate bond supporting safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness and clean air. By supporting , we are investing in a resilient future for our state.

Learn more about why TNC is all in on Prop 4 in California: https://nature.ly/3XfBNK3.

We're All In on Proposition 4 TNC Supports Prop 4: A Climate Bond for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness and Clean Air.