Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Landmark Bill to Restore SF Wetlands

This month, California Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger signed a landmark bill to restore San Francisco Bay wetlands. California Assembly Bill 2954 creates the SF Bay Restoration Authority, to secure crucial funding to help establish 100,000 acres of healthy wetlands around the Bay which is the necessary acreage for a sustainable Bay ecosystem. This is a critical victory because lack of steady, reliable funding is the greatest obstacle to restoring wetlands. Today, only five percent of the Bay’s original wetlands remain.

Top scientists from around the world identify wetland restoration as a priority strategy in fighting global warming. Tidal marshes also provide cleaner water, natural flood control and essential habitat for endangered species, along with recreation opportunities. Once destroyed, wetlands take work to restore.

Well done Governor Schwarzenegger! This is an enormous victory for the environment we treasure! Do you follow environmental legislation in your area?

It is important that we educate ourselves on the status of the environment and strategies to hopefully avoid catastrophe and hopefully even reverse the damage someday. However, education alone is not enough. We must also be active participants in CHANGE by demanding it from our government, from business and from ourselves. We must act intelligently/consciously, unselfishly and responsibly to help secure a healthier environment for people and wildlife now and long into the future.