Conservation Actions & Archives

Follow current CNPS Conservation actions from this page. The status of current projects are updated as new information becomes available. Information on past projects is available in the Conservation Archives.

Current Conservation Actions

A beautiful show of Monolopia lanceolata in the Caliente Range. Photo: Nick Jensen

Desert – Solar Energy Development: Recently, the flood of applications for solar energy projects on public lands in the California desert have prompted CNPS to take on a significant role in helping to create a responsible siting process that emphasizes the protection of pristine public lands – home to many rare species of California native plants and wildlife. Click here for background information, current action, and information about what you can do to help.

Tejon Ranch: The Winter 2009 issue of Fremontia featured Richard Dickey's article on the floral blooms of Western Antelope Valley, Tejon, and Gorman. Mr. Dickey's photography tells the story. Click here to download the article (2.9Mb PDF).

In July 2009, CNPS submitted comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Draft EIS for the Tehachapi Upper Multi-Species HCP (TUMSHCP).

California Timber Harvest Plans – Siskiyou Region
Since 2008, CalFire has approved several THPs that do not require the applicant to survey for CNPS List 2 plants. CNPS is tracking these developments in north state forests.

Fire and Fuels Management
The devastating wildfires that sweep through western forests year after year have provided political fuel for timber interests to seek relaxed environmental review of the timber harvest process. Forest and chaparral lands are poised for thinning and clearing in the name of fire protection and bio-thermal energy generation while ecological value gets overlooked.

Newhall Ranch – The Newhall Land and Farming Company, a large privately held corporation in eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County is proposing to build a new city, called Newhall Ranch, on their property just east of Ventura County on the north slopes of the Santa Susana Mountains west of Valencia (and Magic Mountain). This proposed project will have tremendous impacts of the natural and human environment.

TANC news – Project Terminated! The Transmission Agency of Northern California's project to install new transmission lines across the Sacramento Valley (the TANC project) was terminated by the TANC board members on July 15. Click here for background information.

Conservation Archives

Critical Habitat Campaign
View updated information on the CNPS and the Center for Biological Diversity's campaign for designated critical habitat for eight imperiled plant species in San Diego, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties of southern and eastern California.

UC Merced
UC Merced: CNPS and seven other environmental organizations support the University of California’s decision to reduce the footprint and associated environmental impacts of the UC Merced campus.

Enforcement Actions
When necessary, the California Native Plant Society may use litigation as a means of carrying out its mission and achieving its goals, which include promoting adherence to, and enforcement of, federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies that protect native plants. This section catalogues information from past CNPS enforcement actions.