© 2011 Wendy Dager

Tread Lightly
Back to basics for flora and fauna preservation

Not everyone enjoys living in an urban wild-land interface, but the many Californians who reside in tract housing are thrilled by the occasional sighting of deer, raccoons, coyotes or other wildlife that venture down to suburbia.

In the face of population expansion, the subsequent building of homes, increase in industry, and automobile traffic bring the challenge of respecting native fauna and encouraging the growth of native flora.

As the basic rule of sustainability is to “improve the quality of human life while supporting ecosystems,” the average person is aware that habitat maintenance is essential to the continued existence of precious plant and animal life. While it may be considered too little-too late in terms of strip malls and city blocks, there are ways to create native-friendly environments. Amidst housing developments, golf courses and in other built-up areas, the landscape contractor has a duty to select plantings that are compatible with existing ecology.

On a larger scale, organizations such as the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) are working to make sure the wider populace remains environmentally conscious.

The EDC’s mission is to “protect and enhance the local environment through education, advocacy, and legal action” throughout San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Its projects include protecting and restoring the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, long-term preservation of the Gaviota Coast, and recommendations for the Discharge Waiver program of Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, which implements federal and state laws to regulate discharges from irrigated agricultural lands to protect water quality.

S&S Seeds has been involved in numerous preservation activities, including providing seeds for private and public projects that protect and conserve local resources. Our site-specific seed collections include highway realignments, wind farms, pipelines, habitat conservation projects and more. We are able to coordinate collection of native seeds from a very specific region for future use.

While history is clouded with dubious decisions by those who didn’t understand that some of our native plants and animals would become endangered or extinct, it’s up to all of us to now preserve what remains.

Whatever the project, large or small, S&S Seeds is here to help. Be sure to visit our website at http://www.ssseeds.com or call (805) 684-0436. –For more about the Environmental Defense Center, http://www.edcnet.org/.

Basic Native Erosion Control Mix The best choice for rapid growth! Specially formulated annual Native California mix of Cucamonga Brome, Tomcat Clover, and Small Fescue

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