The Power of Biodiversity

Everyone who lives in Orange County knows this place is truly a paradise—sunsets that never fail to stun, beautiful beaches, iconic ocean views, and weather that defines 72 and sunny.

As great as it is for humans, it’s even better for native wildlife. In fact, Orange County is one of the most biodiverse places in the world.

Biodiversity may not be something you hear about every day, but it has a profound impact on humankind. When we talk about biodiversity, we’re referring to the interconnectedness of species, habitats, and ecosystems that make up the world’s web of life. And you experience it every time you set foot on the Reserve. It’s the cactus wrens nesting in the prickly pears and Crotch’s bumble bees sucking nectar from native wildflowers and Western pond turtles making their homes in the marshland of Newport Bay. Biodiversity is what makes this place feel so alive, and more than that, it’s the core of everything humans need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.

Our Unique Climate

Southern California has what’s called a Mediterranean climate, aptly described by author Inex Haynes Irwin as a place “where the spring comes in the fall, and the fall comes in the summer, and the summer comes in the winter, and the winter never comes at all.” These temperate conditions create a range of microclimates that allow native flora and fauna to thrive. Only four other geographic regions in the world—parts of Chile, Southwestern Australia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean Basin—have a climate similar to Southern California’s, making it incredibly important to preserve the nature we have.

Saving SoCal’s Biodiversity

Biodiversity is under extreme pressure. The world is losing habitat every day, and species are being threatened at alarming rates. Orange County is no different. Conservation is critical, and the Nature Reserve of Orange County is dedicated to maintaining our region’s incredible variety of native plants and animals. As environmentalist and author Paul Hawken said, “Biological diversity is messy. It walks, it crawls, it swims, it swoops, it buzzes. But extinction is silent, and it has no voice other than our own.”

It’s estimated that Orange County has lost 90 percent of its coastal sage scrub habitat—so the fact that some of the most biologically rich landscapes have been designated as permanent habitat preserves is not only something to appreciate, but to celebrate. The Nature Reserve of Orange County’s 38,000 acres are home to thousands of species, including 39 that are federally or state-protected. When you hike the trails, bike along the bluffs, or simply take in the expanse of land as the beautiful background to your daily life, you’re witnessing habitats that sustain insects and pollinators, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals alike. Every plant and animal plays a role, and our conservation efforts are designed to strengthen these connections. We’re restoring vernal pools so Western spadefoot toads can breed again, planting cactus scrub to rebuild California gnatcatchers’ habitat, and tracking mountain lions as they roam across the landscape to make sure we support this keystone species. Every effort taking place on the land of the NROC supports not just one species, but the entire web of life here in Orange County, including the humans! Most of us who live here choose to never leave; we must care for the nature that keeps us here, so it doesn’t leave us.