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| NPS photo | | Staff monitoring vegetation at Crissy Field |
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Stop Habitat Loss
Restoring native habitats helps to restore ecological balance, preserve local species, and prevent extinction. A healthy ecosystem requires a balance of plants, insects, herbivores, and carnivores which rely on each other for survival. This is as true in the San Francisco Bay Area as it is in the rainforests of South America. Worldwide, species are going extinct due to urbanization and the introduction of invasive species. Since native habitats are the “ecological houses” of the world, their loss represent a serious threat to global biodiversity. Golden Gate’s community habitat restoration programs engage interested individuals, corporations, and youth groups in projects such as invasive plant removal, natural areas revegetation, and native horticulture. Including Habitat Restoration Team in the North District, Presidio Park Stewards in the Presidio, Site Stewardship in the South District, and the Golden Gate Nurseries, our park is engaging thousands of Bay Area residents in healing the ecosystems they share their homes with.
Preserve Local Biodiversity
The native vegetation and wildlife of Golden Gate offer Bay Area residents a special connection to this corner of the world where we live, work, and recreate. Golden Gate Recreation Area houses both our state flower the California poppy, our state bird the California quail, and our state rock serpentenite. Coastal California is a diversity hot spot. Our Mediterranean climate and the rich variety of habitats, plants, and animals that it supports rival that of the equatorial rainforests! California’s nature is a part of our heritage: the living incarnation of California soils, waters, and genetic evolution. When Aldo Leopold embarked in the field of ecology and natural resources management in the tall grass prairies of Wisconsin, he posited that, “the first rule of intelligent tinkering is to keep all of the pieces intact.” Researchers are still working to understand the life histories and ecological relationships of the park's 24 threatened and endangered wildlife and vegetation species. In order to prevent endangered species within our park from going extinct, Natural Resources Managers of the National Park Service must look at the larger scale of the ecosystem that the species lives within, and manage this critical habitat for their recovery.
Experience the Great Outdoors
The appreciation of local nature is a celebration of the diversity and uniqueness of the Bay Area. Many suburbanites and rural dwellers have known the grief of losing a natural area to urban development. Every city in the world was formerly a wilderness, and local nature gives us a glimpse into the past, a reminder of how the California Coast impressed early adventurers and pioneers. As with most things in life, we tend to value what we have a relationship with. The best way to cultivate an appreciation for your local flora and fauna is to get out there and experience it. Get out on a hike, , or !
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