Supervisors Approve Program to Promote Native Plants

01/19/23

San Diego County is a biodiversity hotspot, with more animal and plant species than almost any other county in the contiguous United States. However, in recent decades, increased threats from new and existing development, wildfire, and the effects of climate change, such as drought and extreme heat, have begun to threaten the region’s native ecosystems and local wildlife. Increasing the use of native plants in landscaping offers an opportunity to preserve and expand these important ecosystems, and protect against further threats from habitat loss, invasive plants and pests, and the effects of climate change.

On December 14, 2022 (11), the Board of Supervisors approved the San Diego County Native Landscape Program to increase the use of native plants in landscaping across the region. The voluntary program will use education and incentives to increase the use of native plants in landscaped areas at private development and will showcase the use of native plant landscaping at County facilities.

Native plant landscaping

Native plants in San Diego, such as chaparral, oak woodland, grassland, and conifer forests, grew and evolved before European contact to adapt to the region’s unique ecological conditions. Landscaping with native plants supports biodiversity and helps the natural environment be more adaptive and resilient to climate change impacts by increasing habitat for native animals, birds, and insects and improving water conservation.

The multi-year program will begin with creating a website where people can learn more about native plants, developing a native plant landscaping design manual and educational materials for the public, professional landscapers, and school-aged children, and installing demonstration gardens at County buildings. The program will ultimately create a professional landscaping certification program and offer incentives and ready-made landscaping templates to encourage people to use native plants.

The program will be implemented with input from the San Diego community, including a Community Advisor Group that will help guide development of Program materials and ensure the program is centered on equity.

Learn more about the program and all of the actions the County will pursue to increase native plant landscaping here. You can also subscribe for email updates to participate in the Community Advisory Group and stay informed as the Program is developed.