March 2023 Newsletter
Yarrow © E. Spencer Toy
Executive Director Note - Milena Fiore
I have been hearing a lot lately about the “solar geoengineering” solution to our warming planet. Basically, solar geoengineering is about strategies designed to cool Earth either by adding small reflective particles to the upper atmosphere, by increasing reflective cloud cover in the lower atmosphere, or by thinning high-altitude clouds that can absorb heat. The unintended consequences of such a venture will be devastating. Nature-based solutions are the only answer, and more and more cities, states, governments and global communities confirm that a whole systems foundation must be used if we have a chance to reverse warming in time.
Amidst the rain and snow that continues to hit California and the US, last week the drought monitor reported that 43% of the state remains in some sort of drought category, down from 49% two weeks ago, and a drop from 100% at the start of winter. That is good news, and some say that the rains are “more like normal used to be.” What is not normal are the extreme impacts during the extreme weather, like flooding, mud slides, downed trees and biodiversity habitat destruction, and in some cases death. We must continue work using our 8 Principles design and installation of regenerative landscaping that builds green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). I am grateful that you are part of the solution to make this happen.
Check out our 2023 trainings and events that continue to give you the hands-on skills you need to get it done. Sign up early to receive the Early Bird tuition rate. Our Firescaping Qualification Training (FQT) is 23, 24 March.
With gratitude,
Milena Fiore
Executive Director
Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed © Carol Manglos-Foster
Meaningful Good News
COP15: Nations reach 'historic' deal to protect nature - On 19 December 2022 the world reached a historic agreement to protect nature. Nations agreed to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 in a landmark deal aimed at safeguarding biodiversity.
After two weeks of talks and a final stretch of negotiations that ran well past midnight, roughly 190 countries reached a landmark agreement to stem biodiversity loss.
Under the United Nations’ new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — which leans on voluntary commitments rather than binding legal requirements — negotiators representing most nations on Earth have pledged to halt “human-induced extinction” of threatened species by 2050, safeguarding the “integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems.” They laid out 23 targets that include eliminating invasive species, halving the “overall risk from pesticides” and hazardous chemicals by 2030, and eliminating government subsidies that are detrimental to biodiversity.
We each are part of the solution- here are just a few ways you can make this happen today!
‘Agrivoltaics’—putting agriculture under solar installations—is a good way to maximize land use. It also makes the solar panels last longer. Using land for solar arrays or agriculture farms is often portrayed as a zero-sum game, but it doesn’t always need to be. Agrivoltaics is the technical term for using land for both solar energy and crops, with everything from mushrooms to broccoli growing beneath arrays. This has proven beneficial for farmers, in some cases increasing yields, reducing water use, and adding another income stream from energy production.
The Seed Forest Alliance Launched - Research shows that a decentralized, global seed bank network would drastically improve restoration, preserve threatened plant species, sustainably expand native seed supply systems and benefit local communities. Some key findings include: there are currently 410 seed banks across 96 countries that store native species, but more are needed in almost all countries.
Establishing larger regional seed banks could help meet the need for seeds more efficiently. While the United States, Australia, Brazil and China have the most seed banks, they also need the most new seed banks to meet their restoration potential over the next decade. This alliance will focus on seed supply and connecting forestry groups with the funding they need!
Training Scholarships Available
ReScape Regenerative Education Fund – Anyone in our community is eligible to apply for a tuition award that will cover the costs of any ReScape qualification training or event fees. Apply here: ReScape Regenerative Education Fund.
StopWaste Scholarship - You are eligible for a full scholarship to one of all of our professional trainings if you are an employee of a public agency located in Alameda County.
SSQP Scholarship - You are eligible for a full scholarship if you are an employee of a public or water agency located in Sacramento County.