About the Conservation Program
The Milo Baker conservation program encompasses a wide range of activities, from preserve management, to rare plant hunts, invasive plant issues and involvement in local planning processes.
The Chapter is active in land management of four preserves in Sonoma County established to protect rare plant communities. The Rare Plant group monitors locations of known rare plants and hunts for new, undocumented populations. The Invasive Plant Chair works diligently to reduce threats to native vegetation. The conservation program strives to monitor potential impacts to native plants and their habitats in Sonoma County and to participate in the planning process to minimize those impacts and if necessary, to mitigate in ways that are most beneficial to threatened species and plant communities. Volunteers working on local issues review applications for public and private development in the county and cities. The Milo Baker chapter members work in partnership with other conservation groups, partly through the Sonoma County Conservation Coalition, which meets monthly in Santa Rosa. The chapter also participates with the State CNPS conservation chair on issues in California impacting areas beyond Sonoma County. For more information on state-wide projects visit the state website, CNPS.org.
Local Issues
The Milo Baker chapter is one of 36 chapters of the California Native Plant Society. While the state organization in Sacramento has staff that follow conservation issues on a state level, local issues are left largely to the chapters. These issues are broad reaching, from plant science support to private and governmental development planning.
Activities include assessing proposed development for possible impacts on Sonoma County plants and plant communities to monitoring known rare plant populations. Many members collaborate with other organizations for outreach and education as well as staying informed of new players and proposals. Other members are called upon by local government as reliable and scientific resources for comment on development that impacts plants and habitats.
If you’d like to contribute information or get involved, please contact the Conservation Chair.
The following issues are currently being monitored by our group. If you are interested in commenting or joining us, we welcome you.
- Preservation Ranch: The purchase of about 20,000 acres by the Conservation Fund was completed on May 31, 2022 with funds from several sources. Specifics of the conservation easement and logging plans will be upcoming.
- Proposed Tree Ordinance updates.
- Vegetation Mapping effort by the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space Preservation District.