Infrastructure isn’t often associated with beauty or inspiration — but in the case of nature, it’s both. The natural environment does more for us than most of us understand. Earth Month reminds us nature isn’t an abstract concept, it’s an asset we must steward and invest in because nature is the most resilient, cost-effective and life-sustaining infrastructure we have.
As our natural landscapes face the dual threats of accelerating development and climate change, local efforts to conserve, restore and steward nature are essential to sustain the health of our communities and economy.
The Bay Area’s temperate climate and breathtaking natural landscapes make it a highly desirable place to live, work and play. In addition to being a hotbed of technological innovation, Silicon Valley is a global biodiversity hotspot with exceptional plant and animal diversity and a high number of species found nowhere else.
Coyote Valley is an iconic South Bay natural and agricultural area that is the last remaining undeveloped valley floor south of San Jose. It is often referred to as a “last chance landscape.” This open space provides essential services to people, such as capturing and filtering rainfall for drinking water, buffering nearby communities from the dangers of wildfires and floods and providing homes and pathways for wildlife to migrate between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range.
Similarly, the redwoods in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains are packing away tons of carbon, just as they’re inspiring us with their timeless grandeur. The restored South Bay tidal wetlands protect San Jose’s homes and business centers from the dangers of sea level rise while supporting a rich array of wildlife and a sense of place for the Bay Area region.
The live oaks, grasslands, wetlands and forests that define the Bay Area’s open spaces aren’t just scenic backdrops — they are essential infrastructure, supporting clean air and water and quality of life. Just as we invest in roads, dams and bridges, we must recognize natural infrastructure is just as fundamental to Silicon Valley’s future — and just as worthy of investment.
Economists estimate Santa Clara County’s natural capital, or the benefits people derive from nature, provides $1.6 billion to $3.9 billion in services to people and the local economy every year.
Regional leaders have recognized this value and taken some steps to safeguard our natural infrastructure. Decades of public and philanthropic investment have preserved more than 256,000 acres of open space, or about 30.73% of Santa Clara County. Measure T in 2020 extended funding for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority’s Measure AA from 2016 funds projects that will protect, restore and enhance the ecological health of the bay.
But it is increasingly clear our investments to date won’t get us where we need to go. They are necessary, but not sufficient to keep pace with the growing impacts of climate change — flooding, sea level rise, drought and wildfires.
Nature is our greatest ally in the fight against climate change. It is also our greatest shared responsibility. Whether through public funding, corporate initiatives, philanthropy, community-driven conservation or individual support for organizations doing this critical work, everyone has a role to play in protecting and investing in the landscapes that sustain us.
As we play, hike, bike and explore in these natural treasures during Earth Month and beyond, I invite all of us to look around with fresh eyes. It’s time to recognize the spectacular landscapes we are lucky enough to call home exist not just for our personal enrichment, but also as a life-support system for our civic well-being.
Andrea Mackenzie is general manager of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.