to do it . It ’ s not even close to going to get it done , but it does very nicely offset the negative aspects of all the new urbanization that ’ s going to happen . And it does it in a very intelligent , regional context . … But it ’ s not enough . We never thought it would be enough . This was just one of the things we were working on to help address the problem .” He adds that some say the SSHCP takes care of all our regional habitat needs . “ I always remind them that is a very inaccurate perspective to start with . It ’ s not even close to true .”
And executing a habitat conservation plan can have its unknowns . The majority of land designated as conserved in the SSHCP is privately owned , and Wirth estimates less than a couple thousand acres have been purchased so far . He says securing the land needed to meet the conservation target could be tricky in several of the plan ’ s eight preserve planning units . In one of those units , securing the commitments needed from private landowners could be difficult , and in several others securing the funds needed to purchase property with quality vernal pools before they degrade due to lack of management could also be problematic .
Funding the purchase of mandatory habitat will come from development project fees within the SSHCP , which is dependent upon the economic ups and downs of the real estate market , says Wirth . When the market is booming , funds are available to purchase land from development fees , but the cost of land also increases . But when the market experiences a downturn , and development and fees to acquire important habitat slows , Wirth sees an opportunity .
He envisions a state or federal program that either provides low-interest funds for HCPs to acquire important habitat or purchase the land when funds are not available from development fees . During an economic downturn , the government could secure low-cost loans and land would be inexpensive . When the economy trends upward and development begins to generate fees again , HCPs could purchase the land from the government at the current market rate , reimbursing the government all its expenses to purchase the habitat .
“ It would be one extra little piece that allows habitat conservation plans to always be able to get the best habitats when they ’ re available , irrespective of having any funds available , and that ’ s something that is completely doable . It ’ s just a matter of getting the right people together to make it happen ,” says Wirth . “ Thirty-by-30 really brings it to the fore because we need to throw everything we have ( at it ) to be able to meet that goal .”
Jennifer Junghans holds degrees in biological sciences and horticulture , and writes about food systems , wildlife and conservation . More at www . jenniferjunghans . com .
CREW Sacramento 2021 “ Women of Influence ” honoree Lauren Prichard .
Women of Influence
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