Friends of Ballona Wetlands Receives Environmental Offsets from the Ecological Society of America
July 31, 2024
For immediate release
Contact: Alison Mize, gro.asenull@nosila
Friends of Ballona Wetlands works to protect Los Angeles County’s last coastal wetland.
Photo courtesy of Friends of Ballona Wetlands
The non-profit Friends of Ballona Wetlands is the recipient of a donation from the Ecological Society of America (ESA) to offset the environmental costs of ESA’s 2024 Annual Meeting, held in Long Beach, California Aug. 4-9. The donation is in keeping with ESA’s tradition of contributing five dollars per Annual Meeting registrant to a local organization that works to promote conservation or sustainability where the meeting is held. Over 2,800 hundred ecologists are expected to attend this year’s conference.
Since 1978, Friends of Ballona Wetlands has been a local leader in ecological restoration and environmental education, championing the protection of Los Angeles’ last significant coastal wetland. Their initiatives include the “Explore Ballona!” program, which organizes field trips for students across Los Angeles County, resulting in over 10,000 student interactions annually. Friends of Ballona Wetlands also holds community habitat restoration events and creek cleanups, removing invasive species and trash from the wetlands and Ballona Creek.
“The Friends’ Education, Restoration, Advocacy and Science programs are our legacy of caring and advocating for the Ballona Wetlands,” said Executive Director Scott Culbertson. “We are grateful to ESA for supporting our efforts!”
To engage the public and connect Angelenos with their natural heritage, Friends of Ballona Wetlands hosts guided nature walks and public events that help members of the community experience this unique ecosystem for themselves. The organization’s commitment to environmental stewardship extends across all age groups, offering opportunities for young students to retirees to engage in and learn about ecological conservation.
Students on an Explore Ballona! field trip this year. These students are enjoying a walk through the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, the saltwater side of the Ballona Wetlands system.
Photo courtesy of Friends of Ballona Wetlands
“Friends of Ballona Wetlands exemplifies environmental stewardship, dedicating themselves to restoring and protecting Los Angeles’ last coastal wetland,” said ESA President Shahid Naeem. “The Ecological Society of America is proud to support their vital work, ensuring our conference leaves a positive legacy for the environment and local community.”
ESA’s donation will support various Friends of Ballona Wetlands programs, fostering environmental stewardship at every age. From engaging young children with curriculum activities to providing internships and volunteer opportunities for high school and college students and offering volunteer roles for adults, the organization inspires and nurtures a deep appreciation for nature in Los Angeles’ own backyard.
As ESA’s conference in Long Beach will draw thousands of professionals dedicated to ecological science, this donation reinforces the Society’s commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of their events and supporting local conservation efforts. Friends of Ballona Wetlands’ work embodies the spirit of community engagement and environmental preservation, making them a fitting recipient of this year’s environmental offset donation.
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The upcoming ESA Annual Meeting will take place August 4–9 in Long Beach, California, and will feature hundreds of oral and poster presentations on the latest ecological science. Learn more on the meeting website. ESA invites press and institutional public information officers to attend for free. To register, please contact ESA Public Affairs Manager Mayda Nathan directly at gro.asenull@adyam. On-site registration and virtual registration (providing access to the entire program and a limited number of hybrid sessions) are also available.
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The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 8,000 member Society publishes six journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach and education initiatives. The Society’s Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at https://ecologicalsocietyofamerica.org
Follow ESA on social media:
Twitter/X – @esa_org
Instagram – @ecologicalsociety
Facebook – @esa.org