What does it take to protect native plants in East Bay habitats that are slated for development? It takes knowledge, strategy, perseverance—and most of all it takes community. Our CNPS East Bay Chapter’s plant protection community includes the dedicated and hardworking volunteers on our Conservation Committee; our paid Conservation Advocate; our allies in other conservation organizations; our chapter members and supporters who write letters, sign petitions, and speak at public meetings; and all of our members and friends who make this important work possible through their donations to our conservation program. Please be part of our conservation community by donating to our CNPS East Bay Chapter’s Conservation Fund.
Our East Bay chapter has maintained a consistent, well-informed presence in matters affecting native plants in our two counties. Our Conservation Committee and Conservation Advocate review environmental impact reports, submit written comments, and make appearances to support protection of native plants before city, county, and state governments as well as park district boards. They analyze environmental impact documents, encourage public comments on proposed developments, fund litigation to protect native plant habitat, lead field trips to important sites, and help local citizens understand issues with science-based information. We have forged strong ties with local agencies and other conservation groups, and we have achieved significant victories, including the recent conservation of Tesla as a non-motorized park.
Since 2004 our chapter’s conservation efforts have been greatly enhanced by the work of our Conservation Advocate (formerly called the Conservation Analyst). In addition to providing information and expertise and supporting our Conservation Committee volunteers, our Conservation Advocate works directly on conservation issues with staff of other conservation organizations and government agencies, attends numerous environmental planning meetings, and provides an identity and continuity to our efforts. The Conservation Advocate’s leadership role in many of our chapter’s conservation projects has been essential to our success.
This year we are fortunate that Álvaro Palacios Casanova has come on board as our Conservation Advocate, and we hope you will give generously to support his work, which strengthens and supports our volunteer work. After careful consideration by our board and with concurrence from the CNPS state office, this year we have increased our Conservation Advocate’s hours from half-time to 60 percent–time and increased the salary commensurate with the experience needed to effectively advocate in complex conservation efforts. We raise funds for the Conservation Advocate’s salary and benefits each year entirely through the generous donations of our chapter’s members and friends. Thus, our individual supporters’ generosity goes directly to supporting the Conservation Advocate position and chapter conservation initiatives that promote and secure native plant protection in our two-county area. Please give as generously as you can his year to help protect our rich East Bay native plant heritage. Every donation makes a difference.
You can donate securely online through our website, or you can donate by check. Please make your check payable to CNPS, specify “CNPS East Bay Conservation Fund” in the memo line, and mail it to:
CNPS East Bay Chapter
P.O. Box 5597
Berkeley, CA 94705
Please note: If you are a member of CNPS, you will be receiving fundraising appeals from both our East Bay chapter and statewide CNPS this month. Both deserve your attention because they fund complementary native plant–focused initiatives.
Thank you in advance for your valuable support of our chapter’s conservation work and the East Bay native plants we all love.
Sincerely,
Sally de Becker, President, CNPS East Bay Chapter
November 2021
