Funding Restoration in Our Community

By Gabriela Cervantes, Sr. Project Manager, Conservation & Restoration

Our work to implement native habitat projects is made possible through grants funded by agencies such as the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), which support biodiversity and help fund projects that restore and enhance habitat across California. With this funding, our team has been able to establish native pollinator habitats on both private and public lands. To date, we have completed  24 hedgerow projects, with 19 implemented on private lands and 5 on public lands, and currently expanding our efforts to more public areas. We have had the opportunity to add valuable habitat to sites, including churches, gardens, schools, and other urban spaces throughout Stanislaus County. By planting habitats in areas like parking lots and cityscapes, we create working ecosystems in areas where we would not typically expect to find them. These projects not only fill and beautify the area but also provide food and shelter for local pollinators.

Expanding this habitat into public spaces allows the community members to see firsthand how native plants support pollinators and beneficial insects. These projects are not only valuable habitats, but a space to inspire our community to incorporate native habitat into their own landscapes and home gardens themselves. 

Continued funding is essential to keep this type of work moving forward. Grants like these allow us to take on more projects and turn our everyday spaces into thriving habitats!