The Only Organization Working Exclusively to Conserve and Restore
California's Native Grasslands
About the California Native Grasslands Association
CNGA is the only organization working exclusively to conserve and restore California’s grasslands.CNGA’s mission is to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California's native grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship. We work towards increasing public understanding and appreciation of the value of native grassland ecosystems. |
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Who we are...CNGA is a non-profit membership organization that brings together diverse interests to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California’s native grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship. Members include conservationists, restoration practitioners, naturalists, botanists, resource managers, horticulturalists, agency representatives, farmers, ranchers, homeowners, seed producers, scientists, consultants, students, and native plant enthusiasts. | What we do...Founded in 1991, CNGA continues to develop comprehensive and innovative programs of education, training, and field experience for its members and the general public. Through our publications, workshops, field trips, and our student scholarship program, CNGA is the primary network among people with an interest in California’s native grasses and grasslands. We believe this peer-to-peer contact and technical transfer of information is the most effective way to develop and promote the “art” of native grass restoration and conservation. |
What we aim to solve...
Grasslands perform essential services necessary to support life. Grasslands contribute to human well-being and provide benefits that extend to local, regional, and global communities. Grasslands are perhaps the most human-altered terrestrial ecosystem in California. Agriculture, invasion by exotic species, development and other human-related activities have reduced California native grasslands by 99%. Yet, California’s relict native grasslands are habitat to over 40% of the state’s total native plant species. Grassland birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, pollinators and other animals depend on the resources these plants and spaces provide. Currently 73 grassland-associated species are listed by the state & federal Endangered Species Acts: 14 vertebrates and 59 plants, and 14 invertebrates, including 6 butterfly species. This count does not even include native pollinators and other plants and animals experiencing sharp declines without the benefit of a government attention.
Our Programs:
Grassland Research Awards for Student Scholarship (GRASS) #CaliforniaGRASS
We encourage the next generation to get involved by offering student research scholarships to support field work in California grasslands. Learn more.
Workshops
We train grassland and rangeland managers through our workshops. Learn more.
Grasslands Journal
We provide up-to-date scientific based information in our presentations, advocacy, our website, and our quarterly journal, Grasslands. Learn more.
Conservation
Our Conservation Committee works to conserve grasslands through advocacy at the grassroots level (no pun intended). Learn more.
Education
We offer educational materials with teacher instructions for students grades K-12. We have worksheets on several topics and created a video for grades 3 to 9 called "What Was Here Before?" Learn more.
We invite you to donate to CNGA or support CNGA by becoming a member.
CNGA's origin was on February 19, 1990 meeting when 20 public and private organizations met at the Lockford SCS Plant Materials Center to explore opportunities and "figure out a way to meet challenges which the organizations faced." In the fall of 1991, we became the California Native Grass Association with the dream to make native grasses available for restoration of natural communities.