With passage of Proposition 84, the last critical piece of habitat can be placed into the Palos Verdes Peninsula Natural Community Conservation Plan, and efforts shifted to reserve management. Though relatively small at about 1500 acres, it is Los Angeles County’s only NCCP and the culmination of 15 years of work.


In the early 90’s, EHL and local environmental groups formed a coalition to address habitat preservation needs on the Peninsula. Piecemeal gains were made through cooperative agreements with landowners when possible, and legal action when not. But it was not until work on the NCCP began that a comprehensive effort could be undertaken.

The environmental community was asked to draw up a list of what parcels should be saved for habitat, and virtually all of these have ended up in the preserve. But the success does not end there. Surveys this year found record highs for California gnatcatcher and cactus wren, and a new population of El Segundo blue butterfly. All three are NCCP target species.

Time will tell whether population trends for these and other coastal sage scrub dependent species are on a permanent upswing. But the fact that declines have halted is a good sign that engaging in proactive planning does pay off.