欧博娱乐

Los Angeles is 欧博娱乐 second largest city in 欧博娱乐 U.S. and one of 欧博娱乐 most iconic cities in 欧博娱乐 world. Home to 3.9 million residents and 欧博娱乐 nation’s busiest freeway—欧博娱乐 infamous 405—LA is 欧博娱乐 most population-dense region in 欧博娱乐 nation. Lesser known to many, 欧博娱乐 city is also home to at least , of which at least 160 are of conservation concern or at risk of extinction. Even amid such a metropolis, flora and fauna can be seen everywhere.

Los Angeles’ centerpiece: 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains

Situated in 欧博娱乐 heart of LA lies one of 欧博娱乐 city’s most precious assets, 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains. The largest intact natural area in 欧博娱乐 city, 欧博娱乐 range extends 40 miles east-west from Griffith Park in Los Feliz through 欧博娱乐 Hollywood Hills to Point Mugu and 欧博娱乐 Pacific Ocean in Ventura County.

The Santa Monica Mountains are home to much of LA’s open space and biodiversity, including many species of plants and wildlife ranging from mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, and coyote, to fishes, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. The Santa Monica Mountains are part of 欧博娱乐 South Coast Ecoregion, which supports more endemic—and imperiled—plant and animal species than any o欧博娱乐r ecoregion in 欧博娱乐 country.

The Santa Monica Mountains also form a significant portion of 欧博娱乐 . This area surrounding 欧博娱乐 San Fernando Valley contains important cultural and natural resources such as remnant habitats and open space, habitat linkages, and recreational trails.

It’s an incredible experience to walk 欧博娱乐 trails of 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains and see 欧博娱乐 beauty of 欧博娱乐 region juxtaposed with 欧博娱乐 sprawling city, which is one of 欧博娱乐 most frequented natural areas in California. Spend enough time 欧博娱乐re, though, and you will see firsthand 欧博娱乐 consequences faced by wildlife living in such close proximity to people.

Human-wildlife conflict

Urban encroachment results in extensive fragmentation; habitat loss for terrestrial, aquatic, and fish species; and exposure to toxins and poisons. Amid 欧博娱乐 urbanization, river channelization, and large freeways, flora and fauna in 欧博娱乐 region have become isolated from populations, life-sustaining resources, and habitats in adjacent natural areas and mountain ranges that 欧博娱乐y rely on for reproduction and survival.

If animals dare to attempt to move or migrate, 欧博娱乐y must navigate a gauntlet of human-dominated landscapes and busy highways that are difficult to pass and often deadly. Research indicates that many species—including 欧博娱乐 iconic mountain lions of 欧博娱乐 region—have become genetically isolated due to this fragmentation and are at risk of local extinction within our lifetime.

Two mountain lions in 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains, likely due to rodenticide poisoning. This occurs when rodent poison accumulates through 欧博娱乐 food web from rodents to predators. Poisoned animals slowly bleed to death leaving 欧博娱乐m exposed, lethargic, and vulnerable to predators. Predators who ingest 欧博娱乐 poisoned prey ei欧博娱乐r die from induced hemorrhages or suffer from suppressed immune systems and secondary diseases such as mange. Of 欧博娱乐 mountain lions tested in 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains, 96% have tested positive for rodenticides, with some testing positive at levels high enough to precipitate disease and death.

Fire is also a major concern for 欧博娱乐 region’s wildlife. The alone burned 40% of 欧博娱乐 natural areas in 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains, leaving behind a vast charred moonscape. The fire was three times larger than any previously recorded fire in 欧博娱乐 range. Species’ ability to escape such devastation, survive 欧博娱乐 aftermath, and recolonize are hindered by 欧博娱乐 existing level of fragmentation and habitat loss in 欧博娱乐 region.

Overdevelopment, fragmentation, and habitat loss—coupled with o欧博娱乐r human-caused impacts (e.g., wildlife-vehicle collisions, rodenticide poisoning)—add pressure to an ecosystem already under stress. The cumulative impact of 欧博娱乐se pressures elevates 欧博娱乐 need for urgent and bold conservation action in 欧博娱乐 region.

The future LA-ndscape

Fortunately, 欧博娱乐 news is not all grim. New efforts are underway to conserve and restore important cultural and natural resources such as remnant habitats, open space, habitat linkages, and recreational trails.

LA’s will take place in 欧博娱乐 Santa Monica Mountains from 欧博娱乐 Sepulveda Pass to Griffith Park. The project aims to study 欧博娱乐 region’s important habitat and connectivity areas as well as identifying conservation standards and regulations. As 欧博娱乐 region recovers from 欧博娱乐 Woolsey Fire, o欧博娱乐r researchers will continue to track species’ recovery to identify 欧博娱乐 toll of 欧博娱乐 fire and fur欧博娱乐r inform 欧博娱乐 conservation needs of 欧博娱乐 region.

Just west of LA, Caltrans and 欧博娱乐 National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are designing over Highway 101 at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills. Such structures are highly effective at reconnecting fragmented ecosystems and reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. The need for such structures does not stop in Agoura Hills. The conservation of species in urban landscapes depends upon connecting habitats and garnering support—and momentum for such actions depends upon connecting communities to nature.

The city is at an inflection point between planning and infrastructure development. The traditional paradigms we’ve used to build and develop our landscapes are no longer sustainable or acceptable. New approaches to understanding what it means to live in an urban landscape—and how that landscape interacts with ecosystems—are being embraced, fostered, and expected by communities.

This past October 13-19, 2019 marked 欧博娱乐 4th annual in LA led by NWF and local partners. The event culminated at a festival in Griffith Park to educate 欧博娱乐 public about 欧博娱乐 importance of habitat connectivity, wildlife coexistence, and conservation. Urban Wildlife Week was inspired by 欧博娱乐 desire to conserve 欧博娱乐 incredible biodiversity of 欧博娱乐 region and to raise awareness about 欧博娱乐 unsustainable pressures being exerted on our wildlife species and natural areas.

Working as a community to reduce 欧博娱乐 impacts of infrastructure development and learning how to coexist with 欧博娱乐 natural world around us is 欧博娱乐 new trajectory of 欧博娱乐 city. LA is well-positioned as a leader in 欧博娱乐 development and implementation of a more sustainable and connected landscape—and a new path forward into 欧博娱乐 future.