By Dr. Hugh Bialecki.
Save Our Forest Association.
April each year is Earth Month – a time to raise environmental awareness in our own communities and across the globe as we join hands with others to further sustainable development, reduce our carbon footprint and strive to protect the natural resources in the San Bernardino Mountains and across the planet.
The Save Our Forest Association (SOFA) was formed in 1988 by ordinary citizens with the express goal to preserve the mountain quality of life.
Gaylord Nelson was an American politician from Wisconsin who served as a U.S. senator from 1962 to 1981; he was a leading figure in the fight against environmental degradation and social injustice. He never overlooked the social and ecological costs of technological innovation and industrial expansion.
Senator Nelson founded Earth Day, which began as a teach-in about environmental issues on April 22, 1970, asking Americans to speak out about the environmental crises they faced. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 and spoke at that year’s 25th anniversary of Earth Day.
The impact of Earth Day led to an “environmental decade” of radical legislative reforms that included the Clean Waters Act, National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (our SBNF Deep Creek has this designation), Federal Pesticides Act, Clean Air Act, Environmental Education Act and the National Hiking Trails and National Scenic Trails Acts.
How can you participate?
- Plant a native tree or scatter native wildflower seeds to promote clean air and the survival of indigenous wildlife
- Walk or ride your bike. E-bikes are widely available in many configurations.
- Turn off lights when you are not using them – reduce your energy footprint.
- Use non-toxic cleaning products. See the Safer Choice EPA Program/epa.gov.
- Pick up litter in your community. See Saveourforestassoc.org for our Adopt-A-Highway clean-ups of Highway 18. Also the Bear Valley Protection Society in Running Springs, bearvalleyps.org.
- Join and participate in a food cooperative. Mountain Provisions Cooperative was founded in February 2002 during Snowmaggedon to provide access to affordable, healthy food for locals. See more at Mountainprovisionscoop.com and help build a community garden.
- Use a refillable water bottle. Disposable plastic water bottles end up in landfills and waterways.
- Support native bees and other pollinators by growing pollinator-friendly plants at home.
- Visit your local farmers market and eat locally grown food.
- Join environmental organizations that help protect your community and our planet: San Bernardino Mountains Group of the Sierra Club; the Save Our Forest Association; The Center for Biological Diversity; the National Resources Defense Council; the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and many others that match your specific interests.
Our local mountain environment of peaks, forests, lakes and streams is an
exceptional treasure found in Southern California and is an outstanding place to enjoy renewal, uplift, adventure and inspiration. It is a rare sanctuary of beauty and revitalization, a refuge from the common everyday world. The Save Our Forest Association’s credo is: Let’s celebrate these higher values and protect the unique qualities of this irreplaceable treasure.
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