October Chapter Meeting – Conservation and Preservation in the Largest City Owned Preserve System in the U.S.

Managing Biodiverse-SD : Conservation and Preservation in the Largest City Owned Preserve System in the U.S.
By Mark Berninger: Natural Resource Manager, City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department (and self-described native plant nerd)

Casa del Prado Rm 101, Balboa Park
6:00 pm: Browsing and socializing
7:00 pm: Meeting Announcements
7:15-7:30: Presentation begins
8:30+ pm: Wrap up and Thanks
9:00 pm: Clean-up and closing.

Mark Berninger will discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing environmentally sensitive habitats in the nation’s 8th largest city. He will discuss many of the ways that The City of San Diego is working to preserve and increase biodiversity across City lands and how the City works within the regional conservation framework to protect and conserve rare and sensitive wildlife and plants throughout Southern California

The discussion will also get a bit nerdy describing some of the methods and protocols used to monitor rare species across the City, while not diving too far into the nuts and bolts, but more than enough to satisfy even the discerning plant aficionado. As the Natural Resource Manager, Mark and a dedicated team of biologists, park rangers, and staff manage the largest city-owned urban preserve in the lower 48 states, just under 30,000 acres. He manages a diverse preserve system from Escondido down to the Mexican border. The area includes 92 species covered by the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) and the Vernal Pool Habitat Conservation Plan (VPHCP). The City of San Diego is recognized as a model for urban conservation, and Mark works tirelessly to protect the amazing biodiversity of the City and beyond.