Coastal sage scrub (CSS) is a highly endangered ecosystem containing extremely high levels of biodiversityⁱ. The Claremont Colleges own one of the last remaining parcels of coastal sage scrub habitat in Southern California. The land is an important habitat for many rare organisms, including a federally listed endangered plant and several threatened reptilesⁱⁱ.

This 86 acre patch of CSS and other important habitats is currently being used as the Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station (BFS) and acts as a center for teaching and research. The Claremont Colleges are engaged in several ongoing plans to develop much of the land. Harvey Mudd College recently purchased a portion of the land and intends to construct a parking lot on the property. In order to justify the construction of a parking lot on endangered habitat, several Harvey Mudd administrators have argued that the parking lot will be environmentally friendly (“green”)ⁱⁱⁱ.

Ironically, these plans for development have come at a time when the Claremont Colleges, as well as other colleges and universities across the nation, are focusing on their roles as leaders in sustainability^iv.

The Students for the Bernard Field Station believe that sustainability should be not only about “green” construction, but also about the preservation of natural habitats. Colleges must play a role in protecting endangered ecosystems and biodiversity.

Our efforts to convince the administration to consider other possibilities for the land have been largely ineffective. We ask your help in demonstrating the importance of protecting this endangered habitat by signing the following petition:

ⁱhttp://www.mediterraneanaction.net/ma_v2/about_biome/index.jsp, http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/california_floristic/Pages/default.aspx
ⁱⁱhttp://bfs.claremont.edu/biota.html
ⁱⁱⁱhttp://www.hmc.edu/newsandevents/landpurchase.html
^ivhttp://www.scrippscollege.edu/about/green/index.php,
http://www.hmc.edu/about/administrativeoffices/officeofthepresident1/sustain.html,
http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/sustainability/, http://www.pitzer.edu/sustainability/,
http://www.pomona.edu/sustainability/

We believe that colleges and universities have a responsibility to protect biodiversity and endangered habitats as part of their efforts to promote sustainability. We support the Students for the BFS in their efforts to persuade the Claremont University Consortium to consider alternative uses that do not entail the development of the land currently used as the field station.

SIGN BELOW
1. Liana Engie, liana_engie@pitzer.edu
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*Note: This is not a permanent petition. I am trying to make a box/way of getting people to sign without having to be a part of the wiki. Plus we should take their email or other contact information. Perhaps this will be done on the site separately?