Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Preserve land Dear Friends, and restore habitat for the education We are pleased to share the highlights of our work in 2019 and celebrate the relationships between the and enjoyment Conservancy, the cities on the Peninsula, and the members of the community who contribute to preserving natural areas. of all. Throughout the Conservancy’s 31-year history, formal working agreements were proudly developed with four Peninsula cities -- Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills and San Pedro (City of Los Angeles) – in order to protect and restore 1600 acres of natural land. We celebrate these cities for balancing civic and community needs with investment in environmental conservation, restoration and preservation for the public good to benefit future generations. Trust and a commitment to collaboration is essentail in order to ensure the Peninsula natural environment is protected for generations to enjoy. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the community that enables the Conservancy to fulfill the vision of preserved open space land. Thank you for investing volunteer time and financial resources to restore wildlife habitat and provide education to nature lovers of all ages. Together, we continue to uphold the integrity of the stunning coastline and rolling hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula that we all enjoy. Warm regards, Adrienne Mohan Allen Franz Executive Director President, Board of Directors 33 In collaborating with cities, engaging residents and working with willing property sellers, the Conservancy has won the endorsement of both public and private sector advocates. This successful approach to land protection serves as a model for land trust organizations across the nation. Don and Martha Tuffli Conservation and Restoration: The Conservancy works cooperatively with the four cities in which the preserved lands are located: Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling A Cooperative Mission Hills, Rolling Hills Estates and San Pedro (City of Los Angeles). In collaboration with these cities, the Conservancy conducts various conservation initiatives, including voluntary conservation Rancho Palos Verdes easements, habitat stewardship and environmental education. Between 2005 and 2019, the Conservancy’s largest city partner, Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV), received over $40 million from the Conservancy from goals. When invasive plants are removed, native species have room to various state and county grants as well as individual gifts to purchase and take root and create healthy habitats for wildlife, including threatened and protect 1,400 acres of coastal land from future development. RPV not only endangered species. supported the Conservancy by co-lobbying for funds, it also generously contributes $150,000 annually toward land restoration work. After three “We are grateful to the city of RPV for making the natural lands on the decades galvanizing the community to help purchase land for permanent Peninsula a priority,” says Adrienne Mohan. “If a species is lost, it’s lost forever.” protection, the Conservancy continues to raise funding for land acquisitions Indigenous animal species rely on the last remaining native habitats in the and restoration. In 2019, RPV adopted a milestone Natural Communities canyons and hills around the Peninsula. Healthy plant communities provide Conservation Plan (NCCP) in partnership with the Conservancy that sets natural benefits, from filtering water to building soil, stabilizing landscapes, aside these lands in perpetuity to protect rare local species, restore habitat absorbing carbon dioxide and providing wind and weather breaks. Natural and provide for passive recreational use on these natural landscapes. lands also contribute to physical and mental health. As the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve habitat manager and conservation Under the terms of the NCCP agreement, RPV and private landowners will easement holder, the Conservancy oversees land restoration, invasive benefit from a streamlined permitting process for approved development plant removal and species monitoring programs. These responsibilities and maintenance activities. The Conservancy is charged with monitoring include protecting multiple at-risk species, including the threatened coastal the properties to ensure they comply with conservation easements for California gnatcatcher and cactus wren; endangered Palos Verdes and the benefit of covered species, natural communities, biological diversity El Segundo blue butterflies; and coastal sage scrub, cactus scrub and and ecosystems. grassland vegetation communities. Under the NCCP, RPV is responsible for managing public use, maintenance and public safety. The Conservancy “I am so pleased that my four kids and their children will enjoy the benefits and RPV work in close coordination to protect the Preserve’s natural of land we are preserving by adopting this plan,” said RPV City Council resources while maintaining its accessibility for public enjoyment. Member Eric Alegria. In 2019, the RPV City Council also approved a generous and visionary grant More than 30 years of City Council members also agree! The Conservancy of $500,000 for a fuel load reduction project to remove invasive and highly applauds the City of RPV for taking an environmental leadership role. hazardous acacia shrubs. To accomplish this project, the Conservancy contracted with a company specializing in large-scale acacia removal. It also “By adopting a visionary approach for open space conservation together used goat grazing to clear dry mustard. This effort resulted in the removal of with the Conservancy, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has helped to 38 acres of targeted brush in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. forge a partnership that upholds the conservation values of the property through a strong system of checks and balances. Together, we are working In addition to reducing potential losses of life and property in wildfires, to restore the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve and to nurture healthy the brush reduction work helps meet the Conservancy’s restoration ecosystems for generations to come,” said Mohan. 53 In Palos Verdes Estates, the Conservancy supports the Beautify Lunada Bay Project. Following planning meetings with community members from the Lunada Stewardshiphighlights Bay Homeowners Association, the Conservancy has provided assistance with Planted over 4,500 native native plants, volunteers and expertise to beautify weedy parcels of land. The first plants throughout 5 key habitat restoration projects phase of the project near Lunada Bay Elementary School was completed this year. ____________________________ Grew over 37,000 plants in the native plant nursery to support restoration efforts and continued to support the captive rearing program by growing 2,000 host plants for the Palos Verdes blue butterfly ____________________________ Restored and maintained over 64 acres throughout Alta Vicente, Portuguese Bend, White Point, Chandler, Lunada Canyon, Vicente Bluffs and Abalone Cove as well as the Navy’s Defense Fuel Support Point in San Pedro ____________________________ Hosted 55 college interns to gain valuable experience in the fields of environmental education, restoration program management, nursery best management practices, nonprofit communications, volunteer programming and as native plant demonstration garden apprentices ____________________________ Held 24 plant sales for the community White Point Nature Preserve 7 Rolling Hills Estates Rolling Hills Education The formal partnership with the City of Rolling Hills Inspired by the efforts of the Fuel Load Reduction highlights Estates (RHE) began in 1993 when the first major land Project launched in 2019 with the City of RPV, the donation of 28.5 acres was gifted to the Conservancy Conservancy was pleased to formalize a first contract Welcomed 2,057 LA County and combined with Measure A funds that created the with the City of Rolling Hills. The city provided funding school children, 536 parent Linden H. Chandler Nature Preserve. In the years for the Conservancy to conduct fuel load reduction on volunteers from 36 schools through the Third Grade since, RHE has backed the Conservancy’s restoration land near its borders inside the Palos Verdes Nature Naturalist Program, Wilderness of land on the Preserve, which include sites for the Preserve. Elimination of acacia and other invasive Discovery Program and reintroduction of the endangered PV blue butterfly, plants allows native species to take their place while Sierra Club Inner City Outings hiking and equestrian trails. reducing fire danger to the community. partnership ____________________________ In 1995, the City contracted the Conservancy to provide naturalist services for the George F Canyon San Pedro Received 11,182 visitors to the George F Canyon and Nature Center. Ever since, Conservancy education Next May will mark the tenth anniversary of the White White Point nature centers for programs have introduced visitors of all ages to the Point Nature Education Center opening in San Pedro. naturalist-led nature walks, abundant wildlife on the now 55-acre Preserve. With a formal management agreement in place since science and story time, family Each year, over 2,000 students in 24 participating outdoor volunteer activities, 2000, the Conservancy has worked to create and schools from around the Palos Verdes Peninsula enjoy native plant sales and student restore the 102-acre nature preserve established on a classroom lessons, along with