Endangered Habitats League Inc

Ecosystem protection and sustainable land use for the benefit of all the region's inhabitants

Founded in 1991 as a coalition to secure the listing of the California gnatcatcher, Endangered Habitats League incorporated as a 501(c)(3) membership organization in 1993. With a focus within Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego Counties, our mission is ecosystem conservation and sustainable land use for the benefit of all the region’s inhabitants.

EHL currently has two full time staff, based in Los Angeles and San Diego, and a part time treasurer. We operate cost-effectively and contract as needed with legal counsel and a variety of expert consultants.

In 1991, EHL recognized the promise of State of California Natural Communities Conservation Planning (NCCP), which the gnatcatcher listing catalyzed. We made formation of an inter-connected regional habitat reserve system our primary goal, and participation in the NCCPs as our primary strategy. Our methods are collaborative, such as participation in stakeholder committees, with legal action held in reserve. Over the decades, we have developed longstanding relationships – and respect – in the local government, regulatory agency, and building industry sectors, in addition to a large network of environmental group colleagues. The result has been the adoption of several precedent setting, large scale “multiple species” plans in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties. In San Bernardino County, we co-chaired a stakeholder group which created a State of California Regional Conservation Investment Strategy.

Also active in land use and transportation, EHL has been a stakeholder in historic General Plan updates in San Diego and Riverside Counties, and has shaped four transportation sales tax measures to include funds for habitat. A new initiative is Climate Actions Plans, in which we participate in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. We also work on endangered species protection and other matters of regional importance as needs arise.

EHL electronically publishes a quarterly Newsletter reaching about 1500 subscribers, and maintains a database for action alerts, which are targeted by county.

PAST 

Natural Community Conservation Plans in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties; General Plan updates in San Diego Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties; Adoption of Orange County Transportation Authority NCCP/HCP; Improved connectivity for mountain lions to the Santa Ana Mountains; Protection of San Onofre State Beach from highway construction; A conservation plan for the Tejon Ranch; Adoption of a strong Significant Ecological Areas Ordinance in Los Angles County; listing of the San Bernardino kangaroo rat as a California endangered species; Agreement to restore water flows to Upper Santa Ana River; 'Smart Growth" Climate Action Plan for San Diego County; Successful defense of agreement protecting San Onofre State Beach and Orange County wildlands

CURRENT 

Protection of Lytle Creek Wash and its endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat; Release of water from Seven Oaks Dam on the Santa Ana River; Adoption of a habitat plan in North County San Diego; Effective Climate Action Plans for San Diego County and Los Angeles County; Expenditure of a $28 million Conservation Fund focused on the San Mateo Creek Watershed in Orange County; Acquisition of Los Angeles County Significant Ecological Areas; Adoption of a Regional Conservation Investment Strategy in San Bernardino County; Protection of the endangered quino checkerspot butterfly; Reform of the State Vegetation Treatment program to reduce unnecessary habitat destruction; Reducing fire hazard through improved land use planning; Protection of endangered Least terns and Western snowy plovers on Orange County beaches; Reducing whale entanglement in fishing gear off the Southern California coast; Key land acquisitions for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge and Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve; Saving the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly; Protection of wildlife linkage between the Santa Ana Mountains and San Jacinto Mountains; Guiding expenditure of the Ontario mitigation fund in the Prado Basin

Reliable funding for operations, enhanced communications with members, improved website, increased funding for expert reports, increased funding for scientific studies

EHL works in the five Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino.  We also work at the state level on planning, climate change, and fire management. Orange County has been a strong focus since our beginnings in 1991, with an extensive history of engagement in creating the Central Coastal and Southern Subregion nature reserves.  This continued with assistance to the Orange County Transportation Authority in mitigating its transportation project impacts, and in working with the Transportation Corridor Agency to re-route a toll road to avoid key South Orange County habitat lands.

Endangered Habitats League is rare in Southern California in bringing full time staff to advocacy for endangered species and habitats. We have also carved out an important niche based on our collaborative methods.  We are well respected by the local government and business sectors, as well as by conservation colleagues.  We bring credible information to bear and have a unique, pragmatic problem-solving approach that results in long term solutions to environmental-economic conflicts.  We have a sister land trust - Endangered Habitats Conservancy - that complements our work by acquiring habitat lands.  Furthermore, we are highly efficient in our operations.

I am a retired medical doctor who decided to devote my energies to conservation.  We have had a stable organization since 1991 and have made contributions far beyond our size.  We rely on a small circle of foundation donors who understand our work, and a challenge is to increase this circle.