Natural Areas in San Francisco
The
Natural Areas Program (NAP) & the
Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan (SNRAMP)
***September 2011 UPDATE***
On August 31st, the SF Planning Department finally released the Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan (SNRAMP) Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIS).
The public hearing on the Draft EIR will be held in Room 400, City Hall, on October 6, 2011, beginning at 1:30 or later. Public comments will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Monday, October 17, 2011.
Folks, this is it! This is what our San Francisco conservation community has been fighting for for nearly 15 years! We need everyone who cares about saving nature in the city to check out the SNRAMP DEIR and go to the October 6th meeting at City Hall. Come and show your support for the maximum ecological restoration alternative, so that our non-human neighbors have a chance to survive within our fragile but precious natural habitats.
Background
Did you know that the Natural Areas Program manages 27% of the City's parklands - 31 Natural Areas - with 2% of the staff and 1% of the budget, compared to the remainder of the Recreation and Park Department (SFRPD)? Learn more...
SFRPD produced a FINAL
DRAFT Significant Natural
Resource Areas
Management Plan (SNRAMP) for the protection,
restoration and
stewardship of the department's 31
natural areas. Learn more..
On August 21st, 2006 (continuation of July 26th, 2006 hearing), the Final Draft SNRAMP was the subject of a special meeting of the Recreation and Park Commission. The Commission unanimously approved the Plan as the proposed project to be considered under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). On Thursday, October 4th, 2007, the Recreation and Park Commission unanimously awarded the contract to do the Environmental Review work which, very likely, will result in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
In 2009, RPD and City Planning produced a FINAL DRAFT Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan (SNRAMP) for the protection, restoration and stewardship of the department's 31 natural areas and took scoping comments from the community. In the beginning of March 2010, we learned that the Planning Department, in response to our advocacy, will include some semblance of a maximum ecological restoration alternative in the Draft Environmental Impact Report, due out later in 2010. Now we have the long road ahead, during the EIR process, when we must continue to support and defend the Plan, the Program, and our City's natural heritage.
Stay tuned for ACTION ALERTS
to support natural areas!
The following organizations and individuals - with many more in the process of authorization - have pledged their support for the Natural Areas Program and the Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan:
California Native Plant Society
California Invasive Plant Council
Community Gardens for Butterflies
Literacy for Environmental Justice
Nan McGuire
Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative
For the Natural Areas Plan itself, go to the online table of contents. Also check out the executive summary and FAQ.
Incidentally, the State of California has a very helpful website for land use planning known as LUPIN.
San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission
501 Stanyan Street
San Francisco CA 94117
Telephone: 415-831-2750
FAX: 415-221-8034
email: recpark.commission@sfgov.org
Helpful and Important Documents
Office of the Legislative Analyst Report on the SNRAMP & the NAP
Natural Areas Program Myth and FACT Sheet
Natural Areas Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Franciscan Biodiversity FACT sheet and FAQ
Earth Island Journal article about Natural Areas Plan & Program
Additional information on the SNRAMP & the Natural Areas Program
SFRPD manages 31 natural areas that provide habitat for myriad species of native wildlife and plants. These enduring jewels of San Francisco's wild past are nature reserves that support our unique Franciscan geology, harbor rare and endangered plants and animals, including the mission blue butterfly, and are part of the Pacific flyway, the transcontinental migration path for 100s of bird species.
Volunteer information is on the Rec and Park Website,
or check out the Nature in the City Calendar.
Our photo gallery has images of the City's spectacular natural areas.
Links has information about applicable policies and laws in San Francisco.Other important meetings include those of the Park, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROSAC), the Board of Supervisors and other Recreation and Park Department meetings.
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