LAND STEWARDSHIP

For Grassroots Ecology, Land Stewardship means restoring biodiversity, native habitat, and natural functions to the ecosystem. Depending on the site, this might include letting creeks flow (and flood) more naturally, thinning out old wood to mimic what fires used to do, or planting deep-rooted native vegetation that helps rainwater infiltrate the soil and recharge groundwater. 

We are following in the footsteps of a long line of Land Stewards starting, and continuing on today, with Indigenous People. Their forcible removal has drastically changed the landscape and made the need for restoration that much more urgent. While non-native people cannot replace the need for Indigenous Land Stewards, we can all take action to create healthier ecosystems.

Grassroots Ecology’s approach to Land Stewardship starts from the ground up. By removing monocultures of non-native, invasive plants and replacing them with many different types of locally native plants, we are bringing back the food sources that insects need, which then feeds the birds and other animals in the food web. Our approach is also “ground up” in the community sense. Engaging diverse community members in Land Stewardship allows us to accomplish more than we could ever do alone, and restores a strong connection and reciprocity between humans and the natural world.

 
 

Here are some examples of how, together, we have restored habitat and improved biodiversity over the years.

 

BEFORE

In 2013, the McClellan Ranch Preserve meadow was a monoculture of invasive Italian thistle that supported few insect species and created dried vegetation in summer.

 

BEFORE

In 2018, this stretch of Redwood Creek in downtown Redwood City was dominated by invasive palm trees.

 

BEFORE

Byrne Preserve in Los Altos Hills was dominated by teasel and thistles common to open spaces that have not been stewarded in the last 100 years.

 

AFTER

By 2018, we had controlled the thistle and re-introduced many different types of locally native plants. Insects and birds that hadn’t been observed at the Ranch for several decades, began to return. We continue to expand these native plant islands.

 

AFTER

After three years of palm tree removal and native planting and seeding, the creek provides important upland habitat for wildlife and pleasant views for residents.

 

AFTER

A combination of mowing, hand removal of invasive weeds with volunteers, and planting by volunteers has resulted in better native plant diversity and fewer plants that die back in summer. We continue to extend the creekside planting area and control new weeds.

 

Where we work

Grassroots Ecology works with community partners and volunteers to actively steward these parks, open spaces and watersheds:

  • Stulsaft Park, Redwood City

  • Cordilleras and Redwood Creeks, Redwood City

  • Cooley Landing, East Palo Alto

  • Ravenswood Open Space, East Palo Alto

  • San Francisquito Creek, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto 

  • Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, Palo Alto

  • Foothills Nature Preserve, Palo Alto

  • Hawthorns Preserve, Portola Valley

  • Russian Ridge Preserve, San Mateo County

  • Byrne Preserve, Los Altos Hills

  • Redwood Grove, Los Altos

  • McClellan Ranch, Cupertino

  • Bear Creek Redwoods, Los Gatos

  • Shoreline Park, Mountain View

  • Alviso Bufferlands, San Jose