California is recognized as the most biodiverse state in the United States, with approximately 6,500 native plant species. Of these, about 40 percent are endemic and do not grow anywhere else in the world. More than a third of California’s native plants are considered rare or endangered.
The state’s biodiversity is attributed to its varied geography, climate, and geologic history. Features such as mountain ranges, deserts, coastline, rainforests, grasslands, and large bodies of water like Lake Tahoe contribute to this diversity. The highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States are located within 80 miles of each other in California.
California has been designated as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity “hotspots.” This status is due to both its high number of unique species and significant threats to their survival, including habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change.
To address declining biodiversity, California has launched the 30×30 initiative. The goal is to protect 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030.
“Environmentally speaking, biodiversity is the strongest natural defense against climate change,” according to Marie Narlock. She also noted that “biodiverse ecosystems also help protect against natural disasters like floods and storms.”
Narlock explained that healthy ecosystems support clean air and water, pollinate food crops, provide compounds for medicines, reduce stress levels for people, support industries and livelihoods, and foster connections with land.
She emphasized the importance of maintaining native plant communities: “Best to keep our environmental households in order by allowing the native plants that co-evolved with the other living creatures to coexist in harmony.”
Narlock also encouraged individual action: “To help keep our biodiversity healthy, grow native plants in your garden.”
The decline of native plants can disrupt habitats and food webs for wildlife ranging from bees to deer to microorganisms underground. Such disruption may lead to soil erosion, decreased water quality, increased vulnerability to invasive species—and greater risk of wildfire.
By promoting native plants and avoiding invasive ones such as ivy or pampas grass at home gardens or local landscapes—as well as supporting statewide initiatives—residents can play a role in protecting California’s rich biological heritage.
