Support Native Plant Seed-Banking This Week

Fight extinction this week with one simple action.

Budget deliberations are underway this week at the state Capitol, and biodiversity is on the table. Asm. Ash Kalra of San Jose has requested $2M to help California Plant Rescue (CaPR) reach its goal of seed-banking 75 percent of California’s rare plants by 2020. CaPR is already more than 50 percent towards its goal, an important target set by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Now, you can help!

If you are represented by one of these members, please call or email them today. Sample scripts provided below.

(Note: Contact is most powerful when coming from constituents within a district. If you are out of district, a call or email will be most meaningful if you can speak to something special about that representative’s district (e.g., maybe rare plants you know exist in that location and/or special places you like to visit.)

Asm Kevin McCarty (Sacramento area – district map)
Sen Holly Mitchell (LA – district map)
Sen Nancy Skinner (East Bay – district map)
Asm Phil Ting (San Francisco – district map)
Asm Shirley Weber (San Diego – district map)

Also, if you live in Asm. Ash Kalra’s district, please be sure to thank him for supporting California’s native plant biodiversity!

Please use these scripts as you feel appropriate. Personalizing your message is always best. You can even offer to have your representative join you to visit a special native plant location in the district!

Sample Phone Script:

Hi, my name is _______________. I’m one of your constituents living in YOUR LOCATION. I’m calling today to ask whether REPRESENTATIVE NAME will support Assembly Member Ash Kalra’s $2 million seed-banking request. Those fund will go to CDFW seed banking efforts with the goal of banking 75% of California’s rare plants by 2020. We are already 50% toward that target, which aligns with the goals set forth by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. It’s important that we secure the $2M to get us to the finish line.

I also want to mention that I’m aware that you have other seed banking proposals on the table that need to be reconciled this week. Those will not get the job done, but Asm. Kalra’s request will. Thanks in advance for your support of the Biodiversity Initiative!

Sample Email Script:

Dear [NAME HERE]  ,

I’m writing to ask for your support of Asm. Ash Kalra’s $2 million request for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to support seed banking efforts. Seed banking is part of the California Biodiversity Initiative, and Asm. Kalra’s request needs to be reconciled with other biodiversity proposals on the table. The $2 million will be used to support native plant seed banking efforts with the goal of banking 75% of California’s rare plants by 2020. We are already 50% toward that target, which aligns with the goals set forth by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Please support CDFW in helping California reach the finish line!

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME HERE]

Conservation, Plant Science

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