Palo Alto Tree Protection Ordinance

The Palo Alto City Council moved forward a community-led Tree Protection Ordinance initiative, which will protect native and ordinary trees and promote planting native trees, especially oaks. This Tree Protection Ordinance is the most direct implementation opportunity for the city’s Urban Forest Master Plan. If approved next spring, it will improve biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and quality of life in Palo Alto. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative - we will keep you informed as the new ordinance moves through the public process.

Cupertino Climate Action Plan 2.0

The commissioners at this month’s Cupertino Sustainability Commission voted unanimously to recommend Climate Action Plan update measures to the City Council. We were pleased with the robust discussion to ensure biodiversity will be a part of the actionable items, specifically when increasing tree canopy. City Council will be hearing these recommendations at a study session on November 16th and planning for an Urban Forest Management Plan could begin in the near future. This is a critical step forward in blending climate resilience and biodiversity protection!

Nyland Property in San Juan Bautista Permanently Protected for Grazing and Open Space

In 2018, SCVAS supported the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust’s request for Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation funds to support the acquisition of Nyland Ranch, near San Juan Bautista. We are pleased to report that the 540-acre ranch has been acquired and will be preserved for open space, grazing and wildlife. Nyland Ranch provides landscape level connectivity and is considered a high-level linkage priority between the Gabilans and the Santa Cruz Mountains, and includes 70 acres of fenced oak woodland and 29 acres of riparian habitats and wetlands, including freshwater ponds.