Earth Systems Science, Inc.

URBAN WILDLIFE HABITAT PROGRAMS

WHY HABITATS FOR URBAN WILDLIFE?

The world and most of its plants and animals were here long before us. Humans, with their culture and technology, have a profound impact on the natural landscape. Unfortunately, this impact has greatly reduced the areas of natural landscape and destroyed many other plants and animals on Earth. Some plants and animals no longer exist, due to a large part to human impact. If people do not become more effective environmental stewards, we may be the next extinct species.

To build our homes, the land was cleared of the original plants and animals. They lost their home so you could have yours. Other animals traveled through the area on their way to summer or winter homes. They used to stop and rest along the way. But our homes took away their resting and feeding places. This reduction and loss of natural areas has greatly reduced the numbers of many wild plants and animals.

ESSI supports the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to teach people to make wildlife habitats. This is one way to try to help those plants and animals have a place in our lives. We join the NWF and strongly encourage urban families and neighborhoods to garden for wildlife as a means to improve and sustain their neighborhoods and communities. Gardening for wildlife not only improves the environment, it can increase property values, create family learning opportunities, and develop a sense of community and of environmental stewardship. ESSI and NWF will be working on a pilot program with Expo Neighbor Environmental Group and the Expo Rangers to train Habitat Stewards and implement various Urban Wildlife Habitat projects in the Expo Neighborhood.

BASIC HABITAT PARTS

Every living organism needs a home; a habitat. Some habitats are huge; as big as a mountain (and sometimes even bigger). Some are very small; like a drop of water (and sometimes even smaller). But big or small, all living organisms need these basic four parts in their “home” or habitat:

Space: This is the a place or area in which to live and find water, food, and shelter.

Water: This is an essential part of all live on Earth. Some organisms need less water than others, but no creature or plant on Earth can survive without it.

Food: All living organisms need nutrients to survive, grow, and sustain themselves. The form of “food” varies widely, but green plants form a critical part of the nutrient-energy cycle for all life on Earth.

Shelter: Protection from weather conditions and other creatures is needed, especially for rearing young. Sometimes the shelter is naturally occurring, and other times it is created by the organism itself.

TYPES OF URBAN WILDLIFE HABITATS

The National Wildlife Federation has programs for various types of urban wildlife habitats you can certify.

Backyard Wildlife Habitats® can be made at your home. Even if you only have a balcony, you can make a small habitat. Use the Backyard Wildlife Habitat® link below to learn more this program. Also use the LADWP GreenLA Tree Planting Program link below as a source of free trees for your habitat.

Schoolyard Habitats® can be made at your school. It can be big or small depending on how much space you have. Use the Schoolyard Habitat® link below to learn more this program. Also use the LADWP Cool Schools Tree Planting program as a source of free trees for your Schoolyard Habitat® project.

Campus Ecology® Program transforms a college campus into living model of an ecologically sustainable society, and a training center for the next generation of environmental leaders and stewards.

Community Wildlife Habitats® combine many Backyard and Schoolyard habitats, local businesses and organizations. Use the Community Wildlife Habitat® link below to learn more this program. Also use the TreePeople link below to explore possible local community collaborations.

Corridors are the newest wildlife habitat idea the National Wildlife Federation is working on for certification. This work is in progress, so check the NWF website for future announcements.

We are all residents of Planet Earth. It is our only home. We must all work together to keep it clean. (Use the Expo Neighbors Environmental Group link in the "Our Hotlinks" section of the green sidebar on this page to learn about an on-going project in Los Angeles, CA.)

WHAT TO DO?/HOW TO START?

Step 1. Select one or more of the activities below. Use the Urban Wildlife Habitat Related Links at the bottom of this page for more information about the listed topics.
Backyard Wildlife Habitat®
Schoolyard Habitat®
Campus Ecology®
Community Wildlife Habitat®
Habitat Steward Training (For more information, use the hotlink at the bottom of this page.)

Step 2. Certify your own Backyard Wildlife Habitat®. This can be your own personal hands-on training program. Once you have done this, consider encouraging a local school to garden for wildlife, too.

Step 3. Talk about your Backyard Wildlife Habitat® at school and get your friends to make one at their home.

Step 4. Talk with your friends and teachers to make a Schoolyard Habitat®. If you can get a school to garden for wildlife, consider expanding your efforts to encourage a neighborhood or community to garden for wildlife.

Step 5. Go to community groups and leaders to tell them about your Backyard and Schoolyard Habitats. Get them to make a Community Wildlife Habitat®.

If you need help, contact ESSI or the NWF. Local volunteers can help you in your habitat efforts. It all depends on you.

...AND AFTER ALL THAT...

After experience community-based environmental education in action, consider getting involved in an ESSI International community-based environmental education project. Your backyard is your personal training ground. Your neighborhood school and the area of your community expand your experience to a larger area involving more people. Getting involved at an international level is your connection to the world. (Use the ESSI link below to get more information about these international projects.)

Backyard Wildlife Habitat®, Schoolyard Habitat®, and Community Wildlife Habitat® are registered trademarks of the National Wildlife Federation.

Email us
earthssystemsscience@yahoo.com

Urban Wildlife Habitat Links

Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program Information
LADWP GreenLA Tree Planting Program
Schoolyard Habitat Program Information
Apply for NWF's Wild Seed Fund Grant to fund a Schoolyard Habit
LADWP Cool Schools Tree Planting Program
Campus Ecology Program
Community Wildlife Habitat Program Information
Southern California Regional Wildlife Information (NWF-Western)
TreePeople
ESSI NWF Habitat Stewards Training, Spring 2004