San Diego Hosts the California Biodiversity Council: ICF Grantees and Initiatives Highlighted
The border between California-Baja California is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the United States, with an internationally-recognized wetland complex and extensive habitat for hundreds of endangered and rare plants, birds, and other animals. Unfortunately, this binational region also faces threats from habitat fragmentation; a labyrinth of roads, bridges, and fences; and uncoordinated decision-making at the federal, state, and local levels in (and between) the U.S. and Mexico.
It was this complex environment that the California Biodiversity Council (CBC) learned about during its recent meeting in San Diego in September 2006. The 40 CBC member agencies represent decision-making at all levels, putting them in an excellent position to tackle at least one of the major threats to the border region’s wildlife habitat. For the first time, counterpart agencies from Mexico were invited to participate in a CBC meeting, entitled “Biodiversity along the Border: Managing a Shared Watershed.”
ICF helped welcome the CBC to San Diego, working on the agenda, speakers, and site visits as a member of the planning committee for almost six months. ICF also prepared awards to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Coastal Conservancy for their leadership on U.S.-Mexico environmental protection. ICF grantee, Pronatura Noroeste, was featured during a tour of the “Las Californias Binational Conservation Initiative” sites. Other ICF grantees, including Terra Peninsular, PROBEA, Aquatic Adventures, and Promoción y Docencia attended.
Two initiatives were chosen to showcase innovative collaboration on environmental protection along the border – the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Las Californias Binational Conservation Initiative. ICF is involved with both initiatives as both a funder and a project partner. Many CBC member agencies were able to officially visit Mexico for the first time – witnessing a groundbreaking ceremony in Los Laureles Canyon for a stormwater management project and a new playground apparatus and park for the local community.
ICF was extremely pleased with the results from the meeting, which have been swift and encouraging:
- A SANDAG feasibility study that will look at cross-border mitigation options for a new border crossing and freeway expansion
- Pledges to financially support continued work in Los Laureles Canyon and the Tijuana Estuary;
- An invitation to submit a $900,000 proposal to U.S. EPA’s Targeted Watershed program; and
- A new CBC work group that will look for specific opportunities to collaborate across the border on habitat and wildlife corridor protection and water quality improvements.
