Protect
Point Reyes from Nicasio Ridge – (photo by Vernon Smith)
Marin County’s Unique Native Plant Heritage. Marin County has a unique concentration of diverse plant habitats that range from marine to coastal to higher elevation plant communities in the space of a few miles. The County is a vegetation border zone where a number of plants from the south reach their northern limit and a number from the north reach their southern limit. We are also home to many rare and endangered endemic plants that grow nowhere else but in Marin County. The value and uniqueness of the native plant habitats in Marin County have been recognized by inclusion of most Marin public open space land in the United Nations-designated Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve.
Threats to Native Plants and Habitats in Marin: Many native plant habitats in Marin are under siege. They are threatened by the spread of destructive invasive species such as broom, pampas grass and yellow star thistle, by recreational uses that degrade native plant habitats, by rapid climate change that exceeds their ability to adapt; and by lack of understanding of the importance of preserving native plants and habitats, including for biodiversity.
Marin CNPS Working to Protect Marin’s Native Plants and Habitats: The Marin Chapter of the California Native Plant Society works to protect our native plants and habitats. We welcome and need volunteers interested in helping to ensure that the native plants we enjoy in the wild continue to exist and flourish. Our work takes many forms: comment on development proposals and public land use plans affecting native plants, work with public land managers and other non-profit organizations to conserve and restore native plant habitats, organization of weeding programs to protect rare species threatened by exotic invasives, and public education about threats to native plants. In this PROTECT section of the website you will find out more about our work and how you can get involved.
- Conservation Committee: The Chapter’s Conservation Committee coordinates this work, which includes reviewing and commenting on plans and proposals such as development proposals and public land use plans that may affect native plants in Marin County.
- Current Issues: Issues Marin CNPS is currently following.
- Advocacy;Positions the Chapter has taken on various plans and proposals.
- Invasive Plant Awareness: Information on exotic invasive plants that threaten native flora.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Ways you can help protect our native plants through Marin CNPS and other organizations.
- Resources: Additional information on protecting native plants and other organizations involved in this work.
Use the links at right to learn more about these categories.
by Vernon Smith | May 7, 2025 | Volunteer Opportunities
Marin Audubon Society (MAS) works to conserve and restore natural ecosystems to benefit birds and other wildlife. To further this work, Marin Audubon has acquired over 500 acres of land, largely wetlands and associated uplands along San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, to provide wildlife habitat. Restoration projects focus on recreating tidal marsh, transition zone, and upland habitats. Volunteers are essential for all phases of habitat improvement projects, including planting local native plants and controlling invasive non-native plants. MAS has several volunteer opportunities in different areas of Marin.
read more
by Vernon Smith | Mar 5, 2022 | Volunteer Opportunities
One Tam is a collaboration between our county, state and national parks, and the Marin Municipal Water district, all of whom own land on Mt. Tamalpais. Marin Municipal Water District offers a variety of volunteer activities. Learn more here, or contact volunteerprogram@marinwater.org for more information.
read more
by Vernon Smith | May 7, 2025 | Volunteer Opportunities
Each week Broom Service volunteers work in different locations around San Geronimo Valley to remove invasive broom plants. There are several species of broom, such as French broom (Genista monspessulana) and Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) which are highly invasive in California, forming dense thickets which drastically alter native ecosystems and pose a high fire risk. Removing broom allows diverse native plants and wildlife to return.
read more
by Vernon Smith | Mar 4, 2022 | Volunteer Opportunities
Marin County Parks hosts volunteer workdays in their parks and open spaces on a regular basis, including weed clearing, pulling broom, planting new seedlings, and beach and creek cleanups. All ages and abilities are welcome, including beginners, children, and seniors. The work varies in physical demand, but for most events they provide a variety of activities suitable for all ages and abilities.
read more
by Vernon Smith | Oct 25, 2021 | Current Conservation Efforts
by Eva Buxton
Tiburon Middle Ridge composed of serpentine grassland and outcrops is the most biologically and ecologically valuable of the Town of Tiburon’s preserves (26 parcels in all). Tiburon hired consulting firm LSA Associates, Inc. to update the Open Space Resource Management Plan (OSRMP) which I co-authored for that same firm in 2010. Although I am retired, I had the opportunity to accompany the authors of the plan update on a field visit to the Middle Ridge (MR) parcel and give input into the new plan. The updated plan, the Short-term Implementation Plan (STIP), is being reviewed by Tiburon’s Parks, Open Space & Trails Commission. After review, comments, and possible revision it will eventually be adopted by the Tiburon Town Council.
read more
by Vernon Smith | Nov 14, 2013 | Current Conservation Efforts, Protect
by Dr. Paul G. da Silva
As we humans have learned more about the world around us, we have become increasingly aware of complexities that were previously unknown. In the process, we have gained new insights that can help us protect our environment more effectively.
read more
