Habitat Restoration on Vineyards, Agricultural Lands & Beyond

Napa-Solano Audubon has launched this new project in partnership with Viticulturist Katey Taylor of Napa County. The goal is to help agricultural landowners and others take significant conservation steps on their lands. Measures will include planning the installation of diverse native vegetation as hedge rows and around ponds; establishing wildlife corridors; removing invasive species; and installing nest boxes and floating nest platforms.

Nearly 30% of Napa and 66% of Solano land areas are dedicated to agricultural production. Agricultural lands are often overlooked for restoration opportunities, yet can potentially provide opportunity for restoration of woodland, riparian and grassland habitats. Improving plant diversity can help wildlife, reduce invasive, exotic plants, attract beneficial insects, and increase the overall environmental health and biodiversity of an agricultural area. This project will help to promote wide-scale habitat restoration, by making information and resources about local native plant species and bird populations more readily available to land owners. This educational and information sharing, will help identify current and potential bird species and habitat improvement possibilities. In addition, workshops and field demonstrations will provide a hands-on approach and grower-to-grower sharing of information.

This project is funded, in part, by a grant from TogetherGreen, a dynamic and innovative national Audubon program funded by Toyota, that aims to provide inspiration, leadership, and opportunities for people to take action at home, in their communities and beyond to improve the health of our environment.

TogetherGreen will invest in both promising environmental projects and outstanding leaders that can shape a brighter tomorrow. Along with Innovation Grants to be awarded each year, TogetherGreen funds and promotes conservation leadership training and volunteer programs designed to equip and engage diverse groups and individuals to take action today to shape a healthier tomorrow. Information on other grantees, along with opportunities to get involved in conservation efforts, showcase successful initiatives, and honor those who are making a difference, can be found at www.TogetherGreen.org.

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. www.audubon.org

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, with another under construction in Mississippi. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Through its corporate initiatives, manufacturing operations and philanthropy, Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. In 2007, Toyota contributed more than $56 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit www.toyota.com/community.

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