friends of
CALIFORNICA
We work to inspire, inform, and involve others to steward California's native plants and wild-land ecosystems.
SOFT CHAPARRAL ALONG THE COAST
Soft Chaparral
Soft chaparral (or coastal sage scrub) is a low, aromatic shrubland of California sagebrush, black sage, white sage, California buckwheat, toyon, prickly pear, and many other plants.
This ecoregion is incredibly diverse, with major natural communities. But, this is also a threatened region with over 90% lost to development.
Where coastal fog meets the bluffs
Coastal sage scrub occurs on coastal terraces and foothills (below 1,000 m in altitude).
This habitat is bounded on the north & east by the California Montane Chaparral and Woodlands ecoregion, as well as on the east by the Sonoran Desert ecoregion.
To the south & southwest, the habitat is bounded by the Baja California Desert ecoregion; on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The eight California Channel Islands are also a part of this ecoregion.
Stewardship for the next generation
California is 1 of only 5 places in the world with this "Mediterranean climate" - unique conditions that give our native plants their superpowers.
Precious and scarce, these biodiversity hotspots are at risk from development and climate change.
Our Hope
INSPIRE. We seek to inspire people to get outdoors, to enjoy and fall in love with nature. Experience it, love it, protect it.
INFORM. It's amazing to step into the outdoors - a living classroom growing and changing with the seasons. After the rain, tender green shoots appear. With the warming sun, flowers bloom and pollinators abound. Our California native plants and wild-land habitat bursts with biological diversity and interconnected systems.
INVOLVE. It starts with each one of us. From the native plants we use to stabilize our hillsides to the fire-resilience work we help with on the trails, in our communities - there is so much that we are able to do.
We can make a difference together.