At our Organic Garden Club meeting, Dr. Sean Anderson, California State University at Channel Islands Environmental Science professor, gave a wonderful presentation on climate change, called “Backyard Lifeboats – Proactive Tools to Survive our Biodiversity Crisis.” There has been a massive habitat destruction in the world. Only 23% of the land remains wild and it’s expected that 1 million species will go extinct by the year 2100.  There was been a 20% decrease in the wildlife in California.  90% of the wetland are gone and 99% of the riparian areas have disappeared.

Ventura County is ground zero for watching the changing environment.  We are the epicenter of temperature changes.  However, Ventura County has a wildlife corridor overlay which crosses the 101 freeway and allows a safe passage for wildlife to connect to different mountain ranges and extend their habitat. We also have SOAR – Save Our Open Space and Resources.  This policy was just renewed for another number of years. We can be “influencers” for spreading the word about using native plants and lowering our water usage.  Even small changes can cause neighbors to notice and ask questions, and then follow suit.  We can be beacons of hope!  

Dr. Anderson said we have the power to change the future of the Conejo Valley by being an example of biodiversity to our neighbors with our native plants, fruit and veggies gardens. We can even speak up at our local big box stores and nurseries about selling Tropical Milkweed, which hosts a protozoan parasite that causes the newborn Monarch butterfly caterpillar to be covered in spores and die, and selling Native Milkweed instead, which is food and shelter for the Monarch caterpillar. We can lead the way by example!