Report on a Community Initiative Promoting Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Development

An educational event has been organized by the Redbud Chapter of the California Native Plant Society to address the critical role of keystone native plants in ecosystem stability. The session, led by Michelle Fullner of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, is designed to align with and promote several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through community-level action.

Event Overview and Objectives

The presentation will focus on the concept of “keystone plants”—native species that provide a disproportionately large benefit to local ecosystems. The primary objective is to educate the public on how to leverage these specific plants in private and public gardens to maximize biodiversity and support local food webs. This initiative directly contributes to creating resilient local habitats.

Core Topics:

• The foundational role of native plants in supporting local wildlife, including pollinators and birds.
• Identification of keystone plant species that are most effective in supporting caterpillar populations, which are a crucial energy source in the food web.
• Practical guidance for integrating these high-impact plants into home gardens to achieve significant environmental benefits.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiative strongly supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by addressing the following goals:

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The event directly promotes the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems by encouraging the cultivation of native flora.
• By focusing on keystone species, the program provides a targeted strategy to halt biodiversity loss, supporting essential insect and bird populations.
• It empowers individuals to contribute to the restoration of local food webs, a fundamental component of healthy ecosystems.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The initiative encourages the creation of green spaces (“backyard oases”) within urban and suburban environments, making human settlements more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
• Promoting native gardening enhances urban biodiversity and strengthens the ecological resilience of the community.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The presentation serves as a platform for lifelong learning, providing community members with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
• It raises awareness of local ecological issues and offers actionable solutions, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• This event exemplifies a partnership between a non-governmental organization (California Native Plant Society) and a subject matter expert (Michelle Fullner) to mobilize community action towards achieving sustainability targets.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Fullner is an educator and California Naturalist. She is the host of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, a globally-ranked educational resource. Her background in education and natural sciences positions her to effectively communicate complex ecological concepts to a public audience, furthering the objectives of SDG 4.

Event Logistics and Registration

Details:

1. Sponsoring Organization: Redbud Chapter, California Native Plant Society
2. Topic: Keystone Plants and Ecosystem Benefits
3. Date and Time: Saturday, September 20, at 10 a.m.
4. Location: Regional Park Lakeside Room, 3770 Richardson Dr., Auburn, CA
5. Registration: Donations are requested upon registration to support the chapter’s environmental programs.
6. Additional Resources: Locally native plants will be available for purchase at the event to facilitate immediate action by attendees.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article’s central theme is the protection and restoration of local terrestrial ecosystems. It explicitly discusses the importance of native and “keystone plants” for supporting biodiversity, including “butterflies… bees… and… birds.” The goal is to create a “backyard oasis buzzing with life,” which directly contributes to halting biodiversity loss and restoring ecosystems. The text highlights how these plants are crucial for “energy transfer through local food webs.”

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article promotes community-level action to enhance the urban and suburban environment. By encouraging residents of Auburn to plant native species in their “home gardens,” “front and side yards,” it advocates for the creation of green spaces within human settlements. This initiative improves the local habitat (“home habitat”) and contributes to the overall ecological health and sustainability of the community. The event itself is held in a public “Regional Park,” reinforcing the connection between community spaces and environmental action.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article announces an educational event designed to increase public knowledge and awareness about environmental conservation. The talk by Michelle Fullner, an “educator,” aims to inform the community about “the basics of native plants” and “keystone species.” This effort, along with her “Golden State Naturalist podcast,” directly provides education for sustainable development, empowering individuals with the knowledge to make a positive environmental impact.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

   • The article directly addresses this target by promoting the planting of native and keystone species. This action is presented as a way to combat the loss of biodiversity by providing essential habitat and food sources for local wildlife, particularly “an overwhelming majority of caterpillar species,” which are foundational to the food web. The initiative is a direct, tangible action to restore local habitats at a micro-level.

2. Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

   • The article encourages the integration of biodiversity values into local, private land-use planning. By advising homeowners on which plants “should be present in everyone’s home habitat,” it promotes a form of local planning that prioritizes ecological benefits. The focus on getting the “highest bang for our buck in terms of biodiversity” shows a conscious effort to value and plan for ecosystem health.

3. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…

   • While the focus is on private gardens, the collective action of creating many “backyard oasis” contributes to the overall greening of the community. The article also mentions the event is taking place in a “Regional Park Lakeside Room,” highlighting the use of public green spaces as venues for community engagement and education on environmental topics.

4. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…

   • The event is a clear example of “education for sustainable development.” The talk is designed to provide attendees with the specific knowledge (“keystone species that are doing the most work”) and practical skills (how to “integrate these plants into our home gardens”) needed to promote sustainable lifestyles and contribute to local biodiversity conservation.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Variety and population of local fauna

   • The article implies this indicator by stating that planting natives “brings the butterflies to the yard. And the bees. And the birds.” A measure of success for the initiative would be an observable increase in the diversity and abundance of these species in participating gardens.

2. Number of specific host-plant relationships supported

   • This is implied when the article specifies that a small percentage of native plants support an “overwhelming majority of caterpillar species.” An indicator of progress would be tracking the number of caterpillar species that return to an area after their keystone host plants are introduced.

3. Number of individuals participating in environmental education

   • The article provides a registration link for the event and mentions the presenter’s popular podcast. This suggests that the number of event attendees and podcast listeners can be used as an indicator to measure the reach and impact of educational efforts aimed at promoting sustainable practices.

4. Area of land converted to native habitat

   • The call to action is for people to plant natives in their “home gardens,” “front and side yards.” A direct indicator of progress would be the total area (in square meters or acres) within the community that is converted from non-native landscaping to native plants, especially keystone species.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yubanet.com