Stephen Joseph
I
t is the rallying cry that inspired our founding in 1971 and it’s still the reason we exist today. Contrary to what many think, Mount Diablo is not saved, its lands not fully protected, and there is still much more we need to do to save these wild lands in our own backyard.
W hile nearly two-thirds of the mountain is protected as parks, watershed lands, and preser ves, about 70,000 acres are still at risk for development. Once the land is lost, it is gone forever. So we launched Forever Wild, our $15 million capital campaign which will provide Save Mount Diablo the financial resources to respond to strategic land acquisition opportunities as they arise while also ensuring our organization has adequate funds to steward and defend our conserved lands in perpetuity. .
Over time, these wild lands have been carved into pieces, creating a checkerboard of developed and natural lands, some publicly and some privately owned. These fragmented lands hinder wildlife survival, increase pollutants in our creeks and streams, and severely limit public enjoyment.
Dirk Muehlner
SAVE MOUNT DIABLO!
With community help, Save Mount Diablo can stem the rapidly accelerating pace of development and sprawl that I magine a Mount Diablo that was threaten the last remaining open lands once 180,000 acres of wild lands: more at risk—land that could be developed than 280 square miles of canyons, over the next ten years. We can preserve cliffs, woodlands, meadows, streams, the remaining acres of unprotected land microclimates and unique habitats through strategic land acquisitions and sheltering 900 species of plants stewardship that will counter the threat and animals, 14 only found on the of habitat loss, restore connections mountain, dozens rare or endangered. between existing natural areas, and
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
provide the possibility of new trails and recreation areas.
Protecting the remaining Diablo wild lands is an extraordinary undertaking that will serve as a testament to our long term vision. It’s our mission to continue the legacy of conservation started by generations of residents of the Mount Diablo area who had a fierce love of the mountain. Now, together, we can further protect and restore one of the most important natural areas in California.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT
T he economic recession reduced public funds for land acquisition and maintenance but it also slowed the pace of development—temporarily. Now, development is surging back while our park agencies begin the slow process of recovering from depleted budgets. Our business model of assisting agencies to acquire land and transferring lands we own to them can no longer be our only tool for land preservation. In order to keep pace with increasing threats, we must raise our own funding for acquisition and long-term management, both of which require substantial capital resources. Continued on page 6... Preserve Defend Restore Enjoy
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