ISLAND RESTORATION
Native Plant Gardening ~ Located in the heart
of Middle Canyon, the James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery promotes the conservation,
restoration, and appreciation of native plants on Santa Catalina Island. Native
plants are grown from seed or cutting material collected from plants growing
in the wild on the island. Volunteers are welcome every Thursday year-round from
7:30am – 12:00pm. Typical projects include seed germination, seed collection,
plant propagation, weeding, light construction, and nursery maintenance. Volunteers
can also participate in our “Seed Seeker” program. Over 80 plant
species on the island have seeds that need to be collected from around the island.
This project is open to anyone who hikes, bikes, rides horses or drives on Santa
Catalina Island. Training is provided in site surveying and seed collection.
Construction/Maintenance ~ The Conservancy
owns and manages 46,000 acres of natural lands, 240 miles of roads, a botanical
garden, campgrounds, offices, a small airport, and a nature center. The opportunities
abound if your talents and skills are in construction (all types), painting,
or facilities maintenance. Projects vary throughout the year.
Fence Removal ~ In the early to mid-1900’s
Santa Catalina Island was home to several ranching operations. During this time,
over 40 miles of fence line were installed to corral livestock. It is now the
Conservancy’s challenge to remove this old-decaying fence line around the
island. Watch the landscape open up with every mile of fence removed. Current
tetanus shots are recommended.
Hiking ~ Field Projects ~ Santa Catalina Island’s
ecosystem includes a unique variety of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses,
ferns, mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fungi, lichens, and other
forms of life. Some are found only on Santa Catalina Island. If you enjoy hiking
Catalina’s hills and valleys (often in steep terrain) then join us in a
variety of field projects; radio-tracking telemetry, data recording, fence line
monitoring and GPSing island sites and landmarks.
Invasive Weed Removal ~ Invasive non-native
plants are a major problem facing the Conservancy as we protect the natural diversity
of Santa Catalina Island. More than 30% of the island's plant species are not
native to the island. Once established, these non-native plants may out compete
Catalina's natives for vital resources of light, nutrients, and water. Lend a
hand (pulling, chopping and cutting) in protecting our unique island plant species.
Vegetation Monitoring ~ Plant monitoring is
the gathering of information to assess the health, status, and trends of plant
populations and communities and their broader ecological systems over time. Monitoring
is essential to adaptive management, which is using the information gained to
guide and adapt future management actions. One currently monitored area is the
80-acre hayfield restoration trials site in Middle Canyon. Habitats consist of
chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, oak woodland and riparian corridors.
Volunteers assist in data recording and monitoring plant growth.
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