Volunteer Lecture Series: Protecting Biodiversity in the Coachella Valley: Lessons from the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan

The Coachella Valley includes a diverse array of rare plant and animal species and natural communities representative of the Colorado Desert. Katie will discuss the rich biodiversity of our region and the local, state, and federal agencies and community organizations that came together to develop a conservation plan to ensure the protection of that diversity.

The Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP), effective since 2008, is a regional plan covering 1.1 million acres that balances economic growth with the conservation of 27 species and their habitats. It protects over 240,000 acres of new conservation land, bringing the total protected area to over 680,000 acres to support regional biodiversity.

Katie was involved in the development and implementation of the CVMSHCP in her former role as Director of Environmental Resources at the Coachella Valley Association of Governments/Coachella Valley Conservation Commission. She was also a founding board member of Friends of the Desert Mountains until 2006.

The lecture will be held on the Visitor Center back patio.

You must be a current volunteer to attend.

Questions? Contact Allison at astrong@desertmountains.org