Carson officials announced Tuesday the city will join a regional initiative to improve biodiversity and climate resilience in the South Bay, including planting 200 street trees and helping develop a regional biodiversity plan through 2029.
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments was awarded a $1.6 million Proposition 68 grant from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy to develop the plan and carry out pilot landscape restoration projects in Carson, Inglewood and Lomita, according to city officials.
The initiative is intended to provide local governments with recommendations for water conservation, stormwater capture, heat mitigation and pollinator habitat restoration. The council said the plan will be developed with input from local colleges, subject matter experts, nonprofit organizations, community groups and tribal partners.
In Carson, 200 street trees will be planted in vacant tree wells to increase shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality and expand native habitat.
“As part of the California Floristic Province, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot, the City of Carson has a responsibility to help protect the unique natural resources that define our region,” Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said in a statement. “We are proud to join our South Bay partners in advancing this important initiative, which will restore native habitats, strengthen our resilience to climate change, and create healthier, greener neighborhoods for our community.”
City officials said the biodiversity plan will help incorporate native landscaping and biodiversity into future planning and public projects.
“This investment reflects Carson’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, regional collaboration, and building a more sustainable future for generations to come,” Davis-Holmes said.