Public Comment

The Earth is in the midst of the Sixth Extinction crisis. A huge proportion of the Earth's species are in danger of extinction, caused mostly by loss of habitat. A large part of that habitat loss is caused by invasive non-native plants, such as French broom, Italian thistle, and poison hemlock. They crowd out the native plants,destroying the habitat of our native wildlife. 

Most of these plants are listed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (see https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/IPC/encycloweedia/weedinfo/winfo_table-sciname.html ), because they are harmful to agriculture or the environment, and they are designated a "public nuisance". Like trash, another public nuisdance, the state wants to eliminate these plants, and, like trash, no one needs permission to remove them. 

In a park like the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, already about a third of the habitat has already been destroyed by these invasive plants. There are so many that park employees cannot control them. Only volunteers have that capacity. But where are they? 

The East Bay Regional Park District and other public agencies have recently been doing everything they can to attract more people to the parks. And they have been very successful. But, unfortunately, they haven't made the same effort to protect wildlife and habitat. When I do habitat restoration (remove invasive non-native plants), I see dozens of people hiking by, but not one offers to help! Everyone claims that recreation causes people to love the parks and hence support conservation. But it's obviously not true! Recreation only leads to more recreation, which leads to more trail-building, mountain biking, and other habitat destruction. 

Please help publicize this critical issue!