San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy volunteer Christine Justice of Lemon Grove.
We met Christine Justice at the San Diego County Fair. She is a volunteer and was staffing the booth for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy (SDRVC).
SDRVC is a local organization committed to implementing “the San Dieguito River Park and its Coast-to-Crest trail that stretches 55 miles from Volcan Mountain near Julian to the ocean between Del Mar and Solana Beach.” Read more about the accomplishments and activities of this outstanding organization.
San Diego is a center of biodiversity, and the San Dieguito River Valley is one of our region’s most diverse corridors. From Vulcan Mountain to Del Mar and the Pacific, the river valley is a host to many species.
In our public discourse the issue of biodiversity and endangered species, like so many issues, gets lost in discussions that focus on polarizing issues–the vital importance of healthy ecosystems is lost. From the spotted owl, to the snail darter, to wolves, there have been endless controversies about protecting individual species.
But consider the larger picture. We too are part of the ecosystem and we depend on it in so many ways. Did you know that if all insects were to die, the entire food chain would break down and we’d all starve within a couple of years? There are many great books that explain biodiversity and its importance, but if you have ever seen a piece of desolate land that has been over logged, or over mined, or poisoned, you have some idea of the consequences of poor stewardship. If we value our own species, we must respect and protect other species.
We are all interdependent. We forget that, or ignore that, at our own peril.
Conservancy board member Dr. Oliver Ryder discusses the issue of biodiversity in the San Dieguito River Valley in more detail in the SDRVC newsletter.
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is an organization that is taking a stand for an important natural resource in our region. Join Christine Justice and others and become a volunteer. Conservation requires work—and San Diego needs your help.
Learn more about SDRVC by visiting their web site.
Tags: biodiversity, California, Christine Justice, Coast to Crest Trail, Conservation, green, Lemon Grove, Oliver Ryder, park, San Diego, San Diego County Fair, San Dieguito River Valley, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, SDRVC