Deep in the green canyons within the vibrant communities of San Diego, a group of dedicated environmental heroes tirelessly works to preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of the region.
The San Diego Canyonlands team champions environmental stewardship, wildfire mitigation and habitat restoration. Their mission is not just about protecting nature; it's about empowering communities and fostering a deep connection between people and the environment.
"The work of San Diego Canyonlands is particularly vital in the historically underserved, urban communities of San Diego, like City Heights."
San Diego Canyonlands offers a range of programs, including habitat management, fire resilience, stream bioengineering and outreach initiatives that foster a healing relationship between people and nature.
“The work of San Diego Canyonlands is particularly vital in the historically underserved, urban communities of San Diego, like City Heights,” says Jeshua Taucher, development manager of the Canyonlands team. "We provide meaningful pathways for people to get involved in the environmental industry and build purpose-driven careers and communities centered around working with nature."
"We are advancing the narrative around how modern communities can relate to urban nature in a positive and reciprocal way.”
Recently, San Diego Canyonlands received a critical boost in their efforts through a collaboration with Citizens Energy Corporation and San Diego Gas & Electric® (SDG&E®). The donation of four electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations, via a $265k grant, will not only double the size of their existing fleet but will do so in a way that is true to one of their core tenets of mitigating climate impacts.
"These new EVs will augment our capacity to conduct crucial, habitat-friendly wildfire resilience and ecosystem restoration,” says Clayton Tschudy, executive director of San Diego Canyonlands. "We are advancing the narrative around how modern communities can relate to urban nature in a positive and reciprocal way.”
SDG&E's role in supporting San Diego Canyonlands extends beyond the donation of EVs. Through its Transportation Electrification Advisory Services (TEAS) program, SDG&E is helping build the infrastructure needed for maintaining the fleet for the long term.
Aided by the EV trucks, the crews will be out there, removing millions of pounds of dead and dying invasive species, replacing them with resilient native habitats that are as ember resistant as possible and providing the best possible habitat value for bird species like the California gnatcatcher and coastal cactus wren.
San Diego Canyonlands' work is a testament to the power of community-driven environmental stewardship. Their efforts not only protect nature but also provide pathways for local youth and vulnerable populations to build purposeful careers working with nature.