Project Description

The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services is developing options for incentivizing, requiring, and/or educating the public and County facilities on the increased use of native plants in landscaping. The proposed project will be brought to the Board of Supervisors in Fall/Winter 2022 for consideration and direction on recommended actions.

Background

On May 5, 2021, the Board of Supervisors directed the Chief Administrative Officer to coordinate with the San Diego Regional Biodiversity Working Group to develop options for a comprehensive Native Plant Landscaping Policy for public and private property. This policy is intended to increase the use of native plants in landscaping to achieve a range of benefits that include biodiversity and habitat preservation, increased drought tolerance, soil stabilization, air and water purification, and the widening of wildlife corridors and reduction of habitat fragmentation. In addition, the policy aims to support regional markets for locally-produced native plants for sale and distribution from local nurseries and retail stores and generate demand for technical expertise from landscape architects, designers, and contractors in native plant propagation, installation, and maintenance. Equity-based resources and training will be developed to ensure diverse participation among landscaping professionals and residents. The policy is to be informed by robust public engagement and be designed around equity principles to be inclusive, democratic, and accessible to residents in historically underrepresented communities.

Public Participation

Upcoming Events

The County invites you to participate in our Native Plant Landscaping Policy Options Virtual Public Workshop on Monday, August 29, 2022, at 6:00 pm, where staff will present an overview of the project, describe draft options for Board consideration, and solicit important input from attendees. Please use this link to register for the workshop and add the event to your calendar.

Project website: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/sustainability/projects/native-plants-policy.html