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Hanson Pond at El Monte Ecological Preserve

Saving the planet
one student,

one steward at a time.

Our mission

To inspire stewardship of San Diego's native biodiversity through environmental education and conservation.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the immense variety of life on the planet. A biodiversity hotspot is a region that contains at least 1,500 endemic plants - plants that exist nowhere else on the planet, and one that has lost at least 70% of its original habitat.

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San Diego is known as a biodiversity hotspot, containing greater diversity of life than any other county in the continental United States, and home to the greatest number of plant and animal species threatened with extinction anywhere in the country.

California Poppy with Carpenter Bee

Why is biodiversity important?

The variety of life on the planet sustains humanity in a myriad of ways, including:

  • Provisioning of food, fresh water, fuelwood, fiber, and biochemicals used for medicine

  • Water and air purification

  • Climate regulation

  • Pollination

  • Disease regulation

  • Pollination​

  • Disease regulation

  • Erosion Control

  • Regulation of water flow

  • Regulation of extreme weather events

  • Soil formation & retention

  • Cycling of elements critical to live (ie: nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus)

When we understand our interconnectedness with and dependence on the natural world, it is easy to understand how the current extinction crisis puts us all in peril.

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We're so happy you're here!

Monarch Caterpillar on Narrowleaf Milkweed
Monarch Butterfly on Narrowleaf Milkweed

Milkweed Farm

Narrowleaf Milkweed planted in the ground
MBG After

Monarch Butterfly Gardens

Hanson Pond at El Monte Ecological Preserve at Night
Bat Conservation

Bat Conservation

Person and their child performing restoration at El Monte
Habitat Restoration Hover

Habitat Restoration

Group of naturalists studying oak trees
Community Science Hover

Community Science

Four children looking through binoculars by the San Diego Bay
Field Trips Hover

Field Trips

Group of people with ocean view in the background
People with a backdrop of the ocean

Family Days

Two instructors presenting science lessons to group of children
ASL Hover

School-Based Lessons

Person receiving scholarship award award
Two people hugging

EDI Scholarship

Group reading story book hike during nature outing at Crestridge
Storybook Hover

Storybook Hike

Our Impact

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40,000+

Children received science-based, hands-on environmental education.

20,000+

Plants planted to restore native habitats on conserved lands.

15,000+

Volunteer hours of conservation stewardship activities.

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