For the past five years, we’ve been watching climate change unfold in Sonoma County before our very eyes. I began thinking, “Why isn’t addressing climate change one of the top priorities at Regional Parks? How do we get everybody – field staff, visitors, park managers – involved in making a difference?”
– David Robinson, Parks Manager, Sonoma County Regional Parks
Climate change is one of the most urgent crises we face today, and Regional Parks is taking bold steps to address climate change and model a new way forward for millions of visitors annually. Climate change may seem like an insurmountable problem, but – with your help – Regional Parks can invest in solutions.
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Sonoma County is fortunate to have a Regional Climate Protection agency that coordinates countywide climate protection efforts.
The RCPA has identified four target areas for climate action: |
- Decarbonization – Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by using low-carbon power sources that produce fewer greenhouse gasses
- Carbon Sequestration and Ecosystem Services – Capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide
- Resilience and Adaptation – Taking steps to mitigate the risks caused by climate change and enhance the ability to recover, and
- Equity and Community Engagement – Recognizing that climate change has a disproportionate impact on low-income and Black, indigenous and people of color communities and seeking to inspire the broader community to take action.
Sonoma County Regional Parks has formed teams aligned with these four target areas to develop plans and initiate actions to fight climate change.
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Initiating sequestration efforts where compost or manure will be spread on acres of land to remove carbon from the atmosphere .
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Transitioning to electric all-terrain vehicles and power tools, such as weed eaters and leaf blowers, as well as replacing some motorized vehicles with bike patrols and expanding the use of goats and sheep to control vegetation instead of gas-powered equipment.
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Installing rainwater catchment systems on Regional Parks’ buildings, especially at the coast. These systems could provide water for local irrigation and will reduce GHG impacts.
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Regional Parks’ ambitious plans to fight climate change rely on financial support from the Parks Foundation.
The first $10,000 in donations will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the Estate of Carol B. Kelley, a special needs teacher and early proponent of waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Thank you for joining with Sonoma County Regional Parks as we strive to create a better future for our community and the planet!
The first $10,000 in donations will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the Estate of Carol B. Kelley, a special needs teacher and early proponent of waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Thank you for joining with Sonoma County Regional Parks as we strive to create a better future for our community and the planet!
