Friends of Pelican Network

a non profit in formation

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Friends of PelicanNetwork
PO Box 222224
Carmel, CA 93922

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Pelican Network activity

Conservation is becoming increasingly vital in communities all over California. As we enter our thirteenth year as a volunteer conservation advocacy, Pelican Network is asked to help more each year as we have become more effective each year.

We help muster resources to rehabilitate wetlands, restore habitat, and create local means of sustainability. In many parts of the state we are initiating community-based models of economic sustainability through conservation. You can preview this project at Renew California – a slide show we present everywhere we can.

It presents the case for conservation as a public-private partnership. The concept is built on our record of helping to bring about government policy change for the good of community conservation. We work in teams, create networks and strive for consensus like a watershed council.

Pelican Summary

Our successes include: We created the Salmon Coalition to organize native fishery restoration; created the Klamath Restoration Council;

Conservation is becoming increasingly vital in communities all over California. As we enter our thirteenth year as a volunteer conservation advocacy, Pelican Network is asked to help more each year as we have become more effective each year.

We help muster resources to rehabilitate wetlands, restore habitat, and create local means of sustainability. In many parts of the state we are initiating community-based models of economic sustainability through conservation. You can preview this project at Renew California – a slide show we present everywhere we can.: We: command not found

It presents the case for conservation as a public-private partnership. /chanterelle.htm The concept is built on our record of helping to bring about government policy change for the good of community conservation. We work in teams, create networks and strive for consensus like a watershed council.

Our successes include: We created the Salmon Coalition to organize native fishery restoration; created the Klamath Restoration Council; established the Big Sur coast trail community planning process; stopped the US Navy plan to establish a practice bombing range in Big Sur; brought the State and Duke Energy to the highest court in California to stop once-through cooling of its power plants; created the Pelican Protection Alliance to stop barbaric fishing practices that were killing sea birds; stopped the Canyon Creek placer mining that would wipe out a coho spawning tributary to the Trinity River;
founded the
Big Sur Chanterelle Cook-Off to help fund local conservation; created WildBigSur an internet community bulletin board after the debilitating 2008 fire; played important role to keep California State Parks funded; organized public advocacy campaign to bring all California resource agencies to work together for the first time in a process we initiated to re-evaluate logging practices. We initiated study of Big Sur south coast redwods which are disappearing because of State Parks and U.S. Forest Service indifference, and restoration of the Big Sur River.

 

 

Letter from California Senator Dan McCorquodale (ret)

Dear Friend,

We are in a critical time in California.   Now more than ever, we need a voice for community sustainability and conservation.  Runaway, unaccountable projects are underway which will exacerbate the troubling trend against our natural resources.

And, there is an amazing movement among grassroots community minded people working to restore our natural resources.  We need to celebrate these efforts and support them.  That is why I am writing this letter to you.  Because you belong to Pelican Network, you know this challenge and purpose.

Pelican Network has become a an effective force for conservation in California, and I ask you to join me to help it become even more effective.  We are creating a support group to nurture this effort.  See Friends

Mammoth water transport schemes and bullet trains will have no purpose but to please developers, who will create more unsustainable growth.

Instead of more population, we need to restore natural communities.  We need to create economic and ecological sustainability.  We need you to say Enough!

To empower your voice we are creating a non profit California entity so Pelican Network can continue and expand its work. We will work with conservation non profits to fund the visionary, Renew California, program,  Pelican will seek grant funds to establish California Heritage Areas and develop community conservation as a lifestyle and business.

This will be a private-public partnership to create sustainable communities.  It is a big project that will need a lot of participants and a lot of resources.  That’s why Pelican Network needs the help of conservation funding institutions. 

Pelican Network has been a great idea machine, and game changer in communities all over California since its inception 12 years ago.  When I was chair of the California Senate Committee on Natural Resources we would have loved Pelican Network.  It brings community energies to important conservation efforts.  And it seems to be a wellspring of great initiatives to make our state better. 

It would have been welcome then.  Now it is necessary.

Pelican Network is unique.  You probably don’t know that it doesn’t take money from other organizations but it helps them.  It lobbies for good conservation legislation and policy, campaigns and organizes for change. 

And, as you know, Pelican is a steady and frequent distributor of useful information, news, alerts and event notices..  Anybody can receive these because Pelican’s mission is to educate about natural and cultural history to encourage us all to work toward sustainable communities.

This is a rare and very much needed mission.  But it costs, and Pelican sustains itself on your donations.  That’s been a rough road.  So the Friends group is necessary to draw funding as a non-profit.  In California today we need to expand the ways grassroots community people can become part of saving California.

You have been an important part of Pelican’s extraordinary accomplishments.  And we would like you to consider participating in the development of Friends of Pelican Network.  You can become a charter member, help shape the constitution and become a member of the Board of Directors.  Please go to Pelican Friends to indicate your interest.

Pelican Network has worked indefatigably all over California, from the Tijuana River to Tule Lake resolving conflicts for conservation.  For three years Pelican worked in the Klamath River country with the Indian tribes to restore watershed. 

See Laura Cunningham’s brilliant book, State of Change to read about Pelican’s work. After the government kill of 89,000 salmon in ten days on the Klamath River, Pelican organized all native fish restoration advocates in Northwestern California into the Salmon Coalition – then formed the Klamath Restoration Council which played a significant role in the landmark decisions to remove the Klamath dams.  Last year Pelican broke bureaucratic ground by getting California resource agencies to cooperate for the first time in an inter agency monitoring of forest clear cuttings.

On this page you will see more of the remarkable victories and accomplishments of Pelican Network: Friends

You are among the more than 10,000 members of Pelican Network.  And more than 240 community-based conservation groups which use Pelican for planning, strategy, consulting and outreach.  This is an important resource for all Californians who hope and work for a sustainable future.

Join and contribute now and be our guest at a Summer party we are planning

We are in the formation stage, so if you would like to serve on our board of directors there is a place here to indicate that.

All over our wondrous State I see amazing efforts in communities to save our native streams and forests.  But there is a palpable dread everywhere that the monstrous forces that are destroying our rivers and forests for unsustainable growth.  We need you to help stop this trend.  We need you to join us.

Dan McCorquodale

 Great things can happen by and with local determination.
We believe conservation is a growing movement in California. A growing number of us want to rehabilitate our local community and environment. Everywhere we go in California we find heroic local efforts by individuals and groups. We believe this new cultural imperative will define our future.

This will be the business of California. Whether it is a roof top solar project, a local art craft furniture factory, or a edible flower business, throughout our state communities want to develop a locally determined sustaining economy through conservation practice. Our model in Renew California spells out the need and way to achieve this future.

As we work to restore coastal wetlands and streams, we continue our watchdog vigilance. We are on constant guard to stop abuses against our natural resources, and help create ways for people to step up to stop egregious actions like PG&E’s plan to sonic blast kill marine mammals. We push the

Great things can happen by and with local determination. We believe conservation is a growing movement in California. A growing number of us want to rehabilitate our local community and environment. Everywhere we go in California we find heroic local efforts by individuals and groups. We believe this new cultural imperative will define our future. This will be the business of California.

Whether it is a roof top solar project, a local art craft furniture factory, or a edible flower business, throughout our state communities want to develop a locally determined sustaining economy through conservation practice.

Our model in Renew California spells out the need and way to achieve this future. As we work to restore coastal wetlands and streams, we continue our watchdog vigilance. We are on constant guard to stop abuses against our natural resources, and help create ways for people to step up to stop egregious actions like PG&E’s plan to sonic blast kill marine mammals.

We push the State to resolve the mess it made of Pescadero Marsh. We initiate exciting community projects to promote restoration, like the Carmel River Fandango – a food and wine fiesta in Carmel Valley coming in March to help restore the Carmel River. As we mentioned at the top of this letter, our work increases each year. That is why we need your support.

Many of our members have participated in this forum regarding issues, and Pelican Network provides a valuable information service to our members. We provide a unique posting service of meaningful and rewarding local events. This gives us all a way to support local efforts. To share the good work of other organizations is distinctive and we are proud to be inclusive..

We will form Friends of Pelican Network as a non profit (501 (c) 3 and pursue funding to grow our fundamental functions within the context of our purpose: Create sustainable communities in California through education and direct conservation action;

 

 

 

Pelican Network functions

Information hub for California Central Coast community-based conservation actions

Develop community conservation business:

Develop tools for communities to become sustainable

Promote watershed awareness, means of protection and restoration .

1. Conservation information hub for California Central Coast Our fundamental work for the past 12 years has been to increase awareness for the need for healthy watersheds through our advocacy for natural and cultural history education. In that context we have developed a network of more than 10,000 people and groups who participate in improving the well being of their communities, watersheds and our state.

Pelican Network has become a unique vehicle for conservation groups to disseminate their message to a broader audience and to bring resources to their work.

We will expand that role with an interactive online calendar and resource bank. Conservation action for communities

2. After many community collaborations, we know we can develop a network of private and public partnerships for conservation. We have learned that there is an extraordinary number of community conservation projects in California. There is a widespread movement in our state to invest energy and hope in community improvement with conservation. Renew California tells the story of how government, community-based conservation organizations and private capital can create community conservation businesses.

We will continue our efforts to persuade government agencies and private businesses to act with a conservation conscience. We have a long record of speaking up for communities against degradation of natural resources and enacting new policy for integrating natural resource protection. This includes the advocacy and organizing for trails and habitat restoration.

3. Community conservation business We are planning community based businesses for conservation – which will be operated by local non profits and profit those organizations.

Example: Fish and Flower Cart. Out of a cart made by a local bird house and wagon maker, we will sell locally grown native plants from the ecological middle school, smoked steelhead trout from our streamside hatchery, organic flowers, fruits and herbs from MEarth native plant garden and neighbors. Out of this cart we will disseminate information about the benefits of native plant landscaping, converting a conventional yard, and plants to attract birds and butterflies, and how to set up a system to retain and recycle waste water for re-use.

Example: Trail Rendezvous. We have a plan to develop yurt hostel and mini-interpretive centers along the California Coastal Trail. The first site will state owned Piedras Blancas property near the Monterey and San Luis Obispo lines We call it Trail Rendezvous, and have discussed it with the Central Coast planning team at California Coastal Commission and the director of California Coastal Conservancy.

Concept: An oceanscape ensemble of low impact low cost yurt tent accommodations. A place for hikers to meet for learning, eating, enjoying and resting. Piedras Blancas Rendezvous is trail stage in a archipelago of trail services along the Big Sur Coast. It is a place for visitors to connect with locals for guiding and portage services. Potential for this project is for a multitude of trails and areas of California.

4. Activities to enhance community conservation awareness will be associated with the Carts and Hostels

A. Story telling. This tool teaches the past and virtues of good stewardship. We will create story learning resources for kids and people at all levels of a community and story telling programs. Learning the stories of Native Californians, for example, are particularly effective because they convey virtues for all aspects of life.

B. Developing conservation stories for publishing (see attached: Journey of the Fish, a California Odyssey

C. Acquire riparian rights to reduce human developments on native fish bearing streams that need streamside re-vegetation and habitat rehabilitation. We will help communities restore migration channels for native fish. Help remove barriers to fish migration and restore spawning and rearing areas. Remove impediments to natural remediation of water quality

D. Acquire conservation easements for forests to be managed sustainably and produce product, e.g., grape stakes, duck calls, building materials, furniture.

E. Create native, pioneer and conservation story telling with State Parks; stop State Parks mismanagement of natural resources; create greater public participation in park management; introduce public initiative for people’s dogs in the parks.

F. Produce events to celebrate good stewardship;

G Design and conduct natural and cultural tours to raise funds for local conservation groups.