Introducing the SBPC Certified Native Habitat Program
The South Bay Parkland Conservancy has been investing years of time and effort “rewilding” large portions of Hopkins Wilderness Park by replacing invasive and non-native plants with plants that were historically native to our area. Similarly, SBPC was a founding member of the El Segundo Blue Butterfly Coalition with the goal of establishing, expanding, and linking habitats that would support the repopulation of the endangered El Segundo blue butterfly.
Now you can help SBPC expand native habitat by joining our Certified California Native Habitat program and converting your yard to a California Native Habitat!
Why convert your yard or property to a California Native Habitat?
1) Do your part for the environment.
Native habitats are critical for preserving biodiversity. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds depend on the ever-dwindling plants in our yards. Some, like the El Segundo blue butterfly and the Monarch butterfly, depend on very specific plants to support their lifecycle. And our local birds depend on the seeds and insects that are attracted to and sustained by native plants. Native plants are adapted to our environment and require little or no water to survive. Watering lawns is the single biggest use of our limited water supply. In addition to wasting water needlessly, rains and water wash fertilizers and pesticides into the ocean further impacting local wildlife throughout the food chain. Native plants require no fertilizer or pesticides…. Converting your yard to a native habitat will provide critical connectivity between larger but widely dispersed habitats.
2) Reduce your maintenance costs/time.
As mentioned before, native plants require little or no watering and they eliminate the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Other than occasional trimming and weeding, native gardens and lawns require very little maintenance - no regular mowing or landscaping.
3) You may qualify for subsidies to convert your yard/property
Most water districts and some municipalities provide incentives to replace your grass lawn and convert or eliminate your irrigation system.
Here is West Basin Water District’s program: https://conservation.westbasin.org/programs/grass-replacement-classes-rebates
4) It is a great learning experience for your family
Researching your plants, planting your yard/property, and observing the changes as your new habitat matures, provides a great bonding and learning experience for family members of all ages. For those with children, your children will become responsible stewards for the planet they inherit. Some children who have worked on SBPC rewilding projects even found their career calling.
5) It creates your own private nature retreat
Maintaining, observing, and enjoying your private native habitat provides hours outside away from the stress of everyday life. Watching the different species of birds, butterflies and plants thrive in your habitat reconnects you and your family with nature and can provide a peaceful, zen experience right at home.
6) Earn bragging rights
Proudly display your SBPC Certified California Native Habitat sign, show off your thriving micro-ecosystem, and educate your neighbors, family, and friends on how you are doing your part to fight global warming, preserve the environment, and provide critical habitat to struggling local species. If you want we’ll put your yard on a map showing the native habitats in our areas.
Interested in specializing in a habitat for the El Segundo Blue Butterfly?
SBPC is a founding member of the El Segundo Blue Butterfly Coalition. The mission of the ESB Coalition is to expand and connect habitats for the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. On June 1st, 1976, the El Segundo blue butterfly was listed as an endangered species at the federal level (Federal Register). According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the historic population averaged 750,000 butterflies a year. The endemic butterfly’s range extends from the Ballona Wetlands south to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. This species relies on coastal dune habitat and a single host plant, dune buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium). All four stages of the critter’s complete metamorphosis life cycle of one year depend on this plant.
If you are interested in creating a specialized habitat for the El Segundo Blue, check out this site:
https://www.esbcoalition.org