notes from ::
A Visual Tour of
San Diego’s Sustainable Urban Landscapes
presented by
Marian Marum, ASLA
•Mediterranean habitats account for 8.5% of land in California, and comprises20%
of the Earth’s named vascular plant species
•Within a single day in this county, we can experience numerous ‘enviro-zones’
•Canyon habitats surround us with incredible natural beauty, despite the lack of rainfall
•Mediterranean regions (only 5 in the world) cover only 2.2% of Earth’s surface, yet
host 20% of all known plant species on the planet
•MOST threatened ecosystems on the planet: (Nature Conservancy)
For every 1 ac. of Med. habitat saved, 8 ac. have been permanently lost
(*The Nature Conservancy has protected 1.2 million acres in California)
•Warm/dry summers & cool/wet winters
•Average rainfall in San Diego is only 10 inches. We import over 90% of our water
SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS in SAN DIEGO:
• RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
-Scripps Institute of Oceanography/NOAA (renowned global research)
-UCSD, SDSU, CUYUMACA COLLEGE
• SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS
-San Diego Foundation (Climate Change Study in San Diego)
-San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership (Consortium/Sustainability Calendar)
-San Diego Sustainability Forum
-San Diego Civic Solutions
-County Water Authority
-California Center for Sustainable Energy
-CleanTech San Diego
-San Diego Natural History Museum
-San Diego Roots (Food not Lawns)
-Nature Conservancy
-C3
-US NAVY, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD
• SUSTAINABLE DESIGN/GREEN BUILDING/ENERGY & WATER CONSERVATION:
-USGBC (LEED rating system/NC/EC/Schools/Advocacy)
-CCSE (Regional Energy Office)
-ASLA (Sustainable Sites Initiative & the local Stewardship Committee)
-AIA (Committee on the Environment)
-SANDAG
-CITIES Going Green = San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Solana Beach
-School Districts
SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES in our URBAN LANDSCAPES
1) VALUE and RESTORE NATIVE HABITATS/NATURAL RESOURCES
2) MANAGE and USE RAINFALL/FILTER POLLUTANTS
(swales, basins, permeable surfaces, constructed wetland/bio-filtration units, )
3) WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPES (WEL) (reclaimed water, drought tolerant plants
(WUCOLS), smart irrigation, inert decorative mulches)
4) PROTECT and RECLAIM SOIL (erosion protection and composting)
5) RECYCLE MATERIALS (sustainable products and green waste)
6) EMPLOY EDIBLE PLANTS
7) REDUCE IMPERMEABLE SURFACES (Green Roofs, etc)
8) INCREASE SHADE
9) MANAGE FIRE RISK
