The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide non-profit organization of amateurs and professionals with a common interest in California's native plants. Its principal aims are to preserve the native flora and to add to the knowledge of members and the public at large.
DKY Members, Want to help at one of the plant sales? Signup on the Plant Sales Volunteer Form
Biodiversity Initiatives | Native Plant Landscaping | AB 1573
An update from Liv O'Keefe,
CNPS Senior Director Public Affairs
AB 1573 Reaches a Stopping Point
Last week, AB 1573 moved to the Legislature’s inactive file, therein ending its 2023 run. It was derailed by last-minute amendments that gutted the bill in what can only be described as a hostile legislative maneuver by opponents.
AB 1573 was a transformative piece of legislation that would have mandated the use of 25% native plants in public and commercial landscaping. This would have been a win for water conservation (no need to irrigate nonfunctional turf), a boost for biodiversity (plants for insects and wildlife to survive and thrive), and an important step toward bringing people closer to nature in their everyday lives.
Following its introduction, AB 1573 quickly earned the support of dozens of environmental and community organizations, even receiving the attention of the Los Angeles Times' editorial board. Over the summer, AB 1573 passed successfully through the CA State Assembly and the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The Appropriations Committee was the bill’s last stop before a Senate floor vote.
We are truly saddened by what happened to AB 1573—but not discouraged! Thanks to all of you who reached out to your legislators and others in support. Read our detailed account of what happened, and stay tuned for more in our blog series looking ahead.
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Enjoy Being Outdoors! Stay Safe!
The Dorothy King Young Chapter serves coastal Mendocino County, the northern coastal area of Sonoma County, and nearby areas. We host activities throughout the year for members and the general public. These include:
- regular meetings featuring informative guest speakers
- field trips
- educational functions
- plant sales
- weed eradication
We also provide input and information to governmental and private
agencies about projects of local and statewide interest which may
have effects on native plants.
Geographic Area Map of the Dorothy King Young Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself."
