Channel Islands Restoration

1. The protection, enhancement or restoration of native habitat

CIR restores habitat in sensitive and unique natural areas in the Channel Islands National Park and adjacent mainland. We help protect rare and/or endangered native plant and animal species by restoring the natural habitat they depend on for survival. Our habitat restoration work consists of the following:

1. removing non-native plants through a variety of means 2. planting native plant species 3. recruiting volunteers for restoration programs 4. planning, managing and tracking the results of restoration programs

CIR works closely with a network of government and nonprofit agencies to plan and carryout our habitat restoration and educational programs. These agencies include the following: Channel Islands National Park, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, County of Santa Barbara Agricultural Commissioners Office, University of California Natural Reserve System and Santa Barbara Audubon Society.

2. Public education concerning the value of native habitat restoration and protection

Channel Islands Restoration provides information to a variety of groups about the value of native habitat and how to protect it. Specifically we work with:

1. School and youth groups. 2. The general public 3. Staff, contactors and concessionaires of the Channel Islands National Park.

The following programs allow us to carry out our educational mission:

1. Field work

We provide a hands-on volunteer experience to young people and the general public in some of the most unique natural areas in California. On multi-day trips to the Channel Islands, volunteers gain a lasting impression of the value of native habitat and the science of habitat restoration. As part of these trips, volunteers view a PowerPoint presentation about the Channel Islands, including natural history, human history and efforts to protect the islands.

2. Public presentations

CIR provides a variety of public PowerPoint presentations to community groups about habitat restoration and preventing the spread of non-native species to the Channel Islands. Audiences for these presentation have includes groups that otherwise would not receive this kind of information (including boating groups) but have the potential to spread non-native species to the islands.

3. Literature design

CIR has designed flyers and brochures to educate visitors and members of the staff of the Channel Islands National Park about preventing the spread of non-native species. We also produce a periodic newsletter to educate the public about our programs and the value of habitat restoration.

4. Publication on the internet,

CIR maintains an extensive web page that provides educational information about the Channel Islands, habitat restoration, native species and more.

3. Soliciting funds and volunteer support to further these purposes.

CIR helps develop public and private funding sources for habitat restoration programs. Development staff have identified funding needs and opportunities and have helped write and submit grants on behalf of our partner agencies. CIR also maintains a database of hundreds of talented and dedicated volunteers. More than 350 of these volunteers have helped us perform habitat restoration work on the Channel Islands and on the mainland.

4. Creating collaborative relationships within the environmental community

Channel Islands Restoration works closely with other organizations that share our goals of preserving and restoring the environment. We build partnerships between nonprofit and government agencies and private groups and individuals to carryout our mission.