January Eco-Bulletin
It may be a New Year, but it is business as usual here at ECOSLO. Whether your New Year's resolution was to take more hikes, reduce your environmental footprint, or simply give back to your community, ECOSLO is here to help. We are so excited to get started with a new year full of sustainability, cleanups, virtual (and hopefully in person!) events, and more!
We hope you can get involved and stay connected with your local environmental center - ECOSLO!
Reservoir Canyon, photo by ECOSLO
In This Issue:
Start your year with a clean-up!
Are you interested in partaking in a cleanup to kick off the new year? Get to know ECOSLO's team for a cleanup at Pirates Cove! We'll be meeting in honor of Martin Luther King Jr on January 17th at 9 am.
To signup please click the link below or contact allie@ecoslo.org with any questions. We hope to see you there!
All participants must be at least 18 years old.
Plant a tree with ECOSLO
The holiday season may be over, but now it's tree planting season! We're planting trees at St. Benedicts in Los Osos on January 29th at 9 am. If you're interested in joining, we are looking for some folks to help us plant 15-gallon trees.
ECOSLO has several plantings throughout the months of January to April. Safety and communication will be our highest priority at these events. Please note that tree plantings can be quite labor-intensive as they require lifting heavy objects as well as patience with digging in San Luis Obispo's tough soils.
To signup click the link below or contact allie@ecoslo.org for any questions.
Call to Action: Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
For over 4 decades, community members and elected leaders throughout the Central Coast have called for the establishment of a national marine sanctuary.
Now, the time has come for you to add your name to the list of those advocating for a national marine sanctuary to protect the beautiful and vital place so many call home. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) provides a unique opportunity to establish the first Tribal-nominated national marine sanctuary designation in the country, setting an important precedent for elevating Indigenous perspectives and cultural values in ocean conservation.
Among its many potential benefits, the CHNMS will:
Preserve our unique and irreplaceable coastal ecosystems and safeguard thousands of years of Chumash cultural heritage by protecting sacred sites
Strengthen the tourism-based economy of the Central Coast by generating an estimated $23 million in economic activity and creating 600 new jobs, and
Stop the threats of offshore oil expansion and acoustic testing as well as provide funding for much-needed local marine research.
The deadline for comments regarding the CHNMS’s proposed sanctuary designation is January 31, 2022. For more information on how to leave a comment in support of NOAA, please visit the official CHNMS website by clicking the link below.
Do you want to get more involved with ECOSLO?
Joining a committee is a great way to become involved in several of our different programs! We have an Earth Advocacy Committee, a Fundraising Committee, an Urban Trees Committee as well as a Cleanup Committee. Every committee focuses on specific goals and programs within ECOSLO, so you can find one that is of the most interest to you. If you would like to learn more please email info@ecoslo.org or you can fill out our Committee Application!
Green Business Sponsor Spotlight: Thank You, 3C Engineering!
We want to give a BIG thank you to our Certified Green Business, 3C Engineering, for becoming a San Luis Obispo County Green Business Program sponsor at the Green Guru level! 3C Engineering become a Certified Green Business in 2021 and continue to show their dedication towards sustainability by supporting us through their sponsorship pledge.
The SLO County Green Business Program is an entirely free program because we believe sustainability should be a goal of all businesses, not just the ones that can afford it. Our amazing funders and sponsors help make this possible! Not only has the SLO County IWMA shown their commitment to the environment and our community by becoming a Certified Green Business themselves, but their decision to participate in our sponsorship program allows us to help other businesses in San Luis Obispo County become Certified Green Businesses as well!
Thank you for being a leader in our community and for all the hard work you do!
Find Certified Green Businesses in SLO County!
If you have a business in SLO County and you are interested in enrolling in the SLO County Green Business Program, please reach out to our Sustainability Coordinator, Evelyn: evelyn@ecoslo.org
