MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SONOMA COUNTY!

From the Lakota People’s Law Project and the Standing Rock Sioux, sign (if you have not already done so) and share widely the petition.

This is a petition to stop the construction of a huge new Costco gas station in Novato.   All you need to do is click the link and add your name

Support Deb Haaland’s nomination for Interior Secretary (she is being aggressively opposed by oil and gas interests).

A group of conservationists from Sonoma County Conservation Action is urging the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to consider implementing a moratorium on county permitted tree cutting in an effort to save and preserve Sonoma County’s iconic oak woodlands.

“For decades, Sonoma County’s iconic oak forests have been excessively cleared in the name of development and vineyards. Much of this county-permitted cutting is being done without rigorous regard for the ecological importance of native oak and forest lands,” said Aja Henry, an assistant field manager with Sonoma County Conservation Action. “A moratorium on tree cutting is imperative for our native habitats as well as our ecological footprint as a county. If we are to really become carbon neutral by 2050, we need a moratorium on cutting until we have a clearer picture of the situation and have developed a realistic climate-oriented tree ordinance to regulate cutting in the future.”

Here is the complete article. https://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/sonoma-county-conservation-action-group-aims-to-create-oak-tree-clearing-moratorium/article_bedd6502-717f-11eb-a311-335356df8cca.html

Take action by writing to the Board of Supervisors (or your Supervisor) asking for a moratorium on cutting oaks until a realistic climate-oriented tree ordinance is developed.

District 1 Susan Gorin – Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org

District 2 David Rabbitt – David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org

District 3 – Chris Coursey – Chris.Coursey@sonoma-county.org

District 4 – James Gore – district4@sonoma-county.org

District 5 – Lynda Hopkins – district5@sonoma-county.org

The Vital Lands Initiative is a comprehensive plan that will guide the work of the Ag + Open Space District for the next 10 years. Building on nearly 30 years of successful land conservation work, the initiative will outline strategies for protecting our vital open space lands to preserve agriculture, natural resources, recreation, scenic vistas, greenbelt areas, and urban open space.

Priority greenbelts and community separators as well as scenic landscape units and corridors will remain front and center in county land conservation under Vital Lands and per the voter approved legislation and acquisition plan. Greenbelt Alliance specifically supports the priority greenbelts that are mapped in Vital Lands as a one-mile buffer around the existing cities and towns, voter approved Urban Growth Boundaries and Urban Service Areas. This provides a strong visual and conservation goal for lands most at risk of sprawl and urban encroachment for the long term.

Vital Lands was on track to be adopted after a final public hearing in December 2019. However, at the last minute, the Farm Bureau blocked Vital Lands by objecting to the proposed allocations of funds for agricultural lands. To address their concerns, specific funding allocations were removed. All lands are preserved for multi-benefits including agricultural land. Vital Lands is widely supported by residents and organizations across the county.

Send email to/ Make phone call to:

Dear Supervisors, 

Please adopt the Vital Lands Initiative as proposed by staff at the Jan. 26 board meeting. It is the result of two years of public workshops around the county and is strongly supported.  (add any details of background info you’d like)

Thank you, 

Name & City

Sonoma Co. Board of Supervisors + staff; bos@sonoma-county.org,  district5@sonoma-county.org, caryl.hart@sonoma-county.org,District4@sonoma-county.org,David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org,Chris.Coursey@sonoma-county.org,Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org,

Call your supervisor via main number (707) 565-2241

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency responsible for leasing on public lands, has entered the final phase of the process to hold a lease sale on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — with a lease sale expected as soon as January!

To make matters worse, BLM is refusing to accept any email comments on this destructive proposal threatening Indigenous sovereignty, struggling wildlife and our climate future — so let’s fill their mailbox! Letters need to be mailed by Thursday Dec. 10

 Arctic Refuge Lease Sale Letter Writing Guide

1.  Keep climate action and climate justice as a first-tier priority at county and city councils

2.  Waste Management/  Carbon sequestration

• Zero Waste: diverting food waste from landfill, reducing plastic consumption,etc 
• Wildland management
• Carbon gardening/ farming
• Local Compost facility

3.  Rapid transition to clean energy and no new fossil fuel infrastructure

• All-electric requirements for new construction and major renovations
• No new Gas lines to new construction
• No new Gas stations
• Microgrids on government land