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Backyard Biodiversity

Supporting Backyard Biodiversity

Biodiversity means the variability among living organisms. It can refer to the variety of ecosystems in a region, the diversity of different species within that ecosystem, or the genetic diversity within a single species. ⁠
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We are in a biodiversity crisis – over 1 million species are threatened by extinction and the stability of our planet is at risk. Preserving biodiversity on Earth is a moral responsibility to other species, and it’s a necessity for our own well-being. The diversity of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms is critical to maintaining healthy and balanced ecosystems that support life on earth, and it’s essential to the production of food, clean water, and habitable landscapes. ⁠
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This is why we’re working to save natural habitat, and to plant native species in wild open space and residential areas. Native plants have co-evolved with local wildlife and thus vitally support the food web and balance of the ecosystems in which they exist.⁠ These mutually dependent relationships have evolved over eons. By reintroducing native plants to open spaces, as well as yards, private and public gardens, parks, and other urban green spaces, we invite bees, insects, and birds to follow. This helps restore nature’s balance one plant at a time.⁠

AFC works to promote backyard biodiversity through educational communications, plant giveaways, helping create native plant gardens in schools and other private green spaces, and backyard camera trap projects. Below you’ll find resources and information on how you can preserve and enhance the vital biodiversity of our region.

Creating stepping stones of habitat

Many of AFC’s Preserves act as wildlife corridors, serving as passage routes and sanctuaries for wildlife moving between the large open spaces of our region. Green spaces of any size can similarly support wildlife – even your backyard! When you fill your yard, garden, or community green space with the right kind of plants, they too can become stepping stones of habitat for wildlife. Pollinators, birds, and small mammals will be able to find safety and resources in your yard as they move about our urban area. 

plant natives

 

Planting California natives in your backyard or balcony not only beautifies your space, it also creates a small and important stepping stone of urban habitat. You’ll be providing refuge, food, and essential space for bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators.

It is great that landscaping in Southern California is now focusing on less water, but not all drought tolerant plants are created equal. Native plants’ abilities to support native bees, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators far surpass that of plants foreign to this region. They are uniquely adapted to our region’s climate and soil, requiring dramatically less irrigation and maintenance, little if any soil amending, and virtually no chemical interventions.

Many of these plants can thrive in pots and containers, so are great options for balconies, patios, or yards alike! Even if you’re short on space, you can do a lot to help.

Resources:

remove invasives & Non-native species

Invasive species are plants that were introduced to our region, usually for landscaping or ornamental reasons, that colonize areas of habitat and outcompete our native species. This is a problem because invasive species do not support biodiversity; our native wildlife have co-evolved over millennia with our native plant species. This has lead to many mutualistic relationships. Invasive species on the other hand, don’t provide as much food for wildlife, crowd out plants that do support wildlife, deplete our soils, and pose greater fire-risks.

Many invasive species act almost as arsonists, such as Acacias and Eucalyptus, and grasses like Bromes, wild oats, ryegrass, ornamental Pampas grass and Fountain Grass. They can spread prodigiously, often escaping from residential plantings and seeding themselves into wild habitat. They outcompete native species and can feed flames by burning hotter and faster than native plants.

It’s not only invasive species that are a problem. “Water-wise” and drought-tolerant species have been promoted in Southern California landscaping for decades. But non-native plants, even if they don’t cause harm to an ecosystem, simply don’t support biodiversity in the same way as native plants. Invasive and non-native plants easily propagate and spread beyond the residential areas where they’re introduced. Swap out those plants in your landscaping for native plants or help out at a restoration event (AFC or otherwise!). 

Resources:

artificial lighting

In the same way that fences, roads, and urban development create barriers for wildlife movement, artificial light can lead to habitat fragmentation. Many animals, both small and large, don’t want to pass through lit areas because they can be more easily exposed to predators (or their prey). The bright lighting we use at night can limit the range of some species, like mountain lions, making it harder to find food and mates.

Many of our wild neighbors are nocturnal and are extremely sensitive to artificial light; it can disrupt hunting, migration, and reproductive patterns. Additionally, for roosting creatures like bats, lights shining on or near their roosts can be disorienting. 

While urban conservationists continue to study the impacts of artificial lighting on wildlife, and implementing dark infrastructure into habitat restoration, there are small changes we all can make at home that have a meaningful impact:

  • It’s important to be thoughtful about outdoor lighting: use it only when absolutely necessary.
  • Make sure lights are not unnecessarily bright, and are directed efficiently (and downward).
  • Implementing motion detectors and timed lights can also help in limiting the effect on wildlife.
  • Be vigilant about turning off all unnecessary lights at night.
  • For more information check out the research of Travis Longcore, adjunct Professor at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

Wildlife friendly fencing

Fences pose difficult and dangerous challenges to wildlife trying to move from one open area of habitat to another. Because of our development of Los Angeles and the fragmentation of habitat, wildlife have to travel through residential neighborhoods. When you need to use fencing for either security, pet safety, or property delineation reasons, you can opt for materials and designs that minimize the harm to wildlife and to their movement patterns.

For details, please read our Wildlife Friendly Fencing blog post.

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