Our local wetlands give our community so much. They support fragile and endangered wildlife, provide an outdoor classroom for local students, and offer a chance for all of us to spend time in nature. We host monthly free-of-charge guided nature walks on three different parts of Los Cerritos Wetlands, and I hope you have had a chance to attend one of them. Sadly, our nature walks are currently on hold right now, but stay tuned for one of our upcoming “virtual’ nature walks.
Our vision is a restored and vibrant Los Cerritos Wetlands. With your help we will get there!
Over the years Los Cerritos Wetlands sure has taken it’s share of “hits”. Our wetlands have been drilled upon, filled in, and generally misunderstood and misused. But all of that is changing. Slowly and surely, our wetlands are being brought back to life, and that is because of people like you, people who understand the value of this unique natural resource.
Our supporters have written letters and attended meetings when Los Cerritos Wetlands have been threatened by development proposals ranging from strip malls, to golf courses to luxury development. Supporters have helped restore our wetlands by planting native plants, removing trash, and also removing non-native “invasive plants”. Our success is measured in the slow return of threatened and endangered species like the Belding’s Savanah sparrow. It is also measured by how much of the remaining wetlands is now in the public trust, and that is now close to half, with more on the way.
I am asking that you do one more thing and that is, today, on Giving Tuesday, celebrate our local wetlands by making a contribution to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust. There are many admirable and effective environmental protection groups here in Long Beach and we are proud to partner with them. But only the Land Trust is out there working every day to protect this vulnerable yet valuable eco-system which is a tiny remnant of a vast wetlands complex that has all but disappeared. Your contribution, however much you can afford, makes a difference to the work we do. Not only does your contribution directly impact our ability to effectively advocate for Los Cerritos Wetlands but it demonstrates to decision makers that Los Cerritos Wetlands is important to the community and worthy of their support and protection.
Please don’t delay. Become a member or make a contribution now to protect our wetlands. . . for ourselves, our families, and future generations.
Thanks for celebrating Giving Tuesday with me.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust