Increase ecosystem function, habitat quality, and connectivity, and prevent the loss of native biodiversity in the region

Los Angeles County is an international biodiversity hotspot, and protecting biodiversity requires intentional management. For example, creating and sustaining linkages between habitats is critical to supporting healthy populations of many species, especially large carnivores that require substantial space. Habitat linkages also provide opportunities for species’ ranges to shift in response to climate change, urbanization, or other disturbances.

Conservation and ecosystem management are also essential to combating climate change. Natural lands and healthy ecosystems, such as wetlands, coastlines, and forests, can help store carbon and improve climate resilience.

The County has a large role to play in protecting our diverse and rich habitats. Specifically, it has influence over large swaths of unincorporated land, including many of the region's waterways, such as the LA River, that were heavily altered through channelization to provide flood protection. Although flood risk management is critical, these alterations can also result in disruption of natural processes such as sediment transport, leading to cascading effects throughout the watershed all the way to the coast. The County also has influence over smaller pieces of land interspersed throughout urban spaces where urban habitats can thrive.