In order to measure the Singapore Index for the City of Los Angeles and develop recommendations for a customized Los Angeles Index and biodiversity practices, LASAN’s Internal Biodiversity Team received input from City staff and local experts via three main partnerships:
LASAN worked with the Biodiversity Expert Council to finalize a list of 37 indicator species for the City of Los Angeles. This list includes vertebrates and invertebrates that are avoider species, and typically are not found in built, urban environments. When these species are present, it generally means that the space possesses a broad suite of habitat quality and connectivity functions, is of sufficient size, and has relatively limited urban edge effects. LASAN's biodiversity team will track the observations of these species made on community science platforms, like iNaturalist and eBird, over time for one of the metrics in the LA City Biodiversity Index.
This LA Biodiversity Index Baseline Report presents the first official benchmark assessment of the LA City Biodiversity Index, a tool that was designed to monitor progress toward the no-net loss target presented in LA’s Green New Deal. The topics covered in the Index comprehensively assess not only what is happening to habitats and how well connected various habitats are, but how well the City is engaging with students and the larger community on the topic of biodiversity and how the City itself is working to protect endangered species and manage threats, like invasive species, via action plans and policies. The body of the report provides detailed information on the assessment of all 25 metrics in the LA City Biodiversity Index. Background information, metric scores, measurement results, a brief discussion of results, and a list of management implications are presented for each metric.
LASAN is pleased to share the 2020 Los Angeles Biodiversity Report, the second such report produced for the City of Los Angeles. This document builds upon the action items and concepts identified in the 2018 Biodiversity Report, which documented measurement of the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity for Los Angeles, and contained recommendations for a customized LA City Biodiversity Index. The report includes the following:
Assessing biodiversity gaps and needs, and developing policies and programs to protect and enhance biodiversity are important for creating systemic and sustainable solutions. The City’s Biodiversity Index will be used to assess gaps and needs, and evaluate progress on biodiversity protection and enhancement efforts. The City’s Open Space and Conservation Framework Element outlines overarching natural resource conservation goals and objectives. The City’s General Plan Conservation Element outlines biodiversity conservation policies and programs and the responsible agencies. The City’s General Plan Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles outlines a comprehensive strategy for creating a healthy environment to support thriving communities. It includes restoring ecosystems and nature in the City. OneWaterLA, the integrated water resources plan, also provides for ecosystem restoration, while the Solid Waste Integrated Resource Plan provides for reduction in demand on natural lands for use for landfills. In addition, the City’s Community Plans, Zoning Code, Building and Safety Permit and Plan Review Requirements, Design Guidelines, and County Park Needs Assessment provide more detailed direction on how and where to implement these higher level plans. Click on Biodiversity Policy and Program Weblinks (linked to bookmarked sections below - each could be a separate subpage) to see a list of biodiversity-related policy and program documents and implementing ordinances.
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