CIR Receives Two Grants For Anacapa Restoration

CIR is pleased to announce that we recently received two grant awards as part of CIR’s work on

the Anacapa Island Restoration Project in partnership with the National Park Service.  Recreational retailer REI awarded an outstanding $9,000 which will allow us to take at least 70 volunteers to Anacapa Island on a series of restoration trips this fall.  REI employees and members,  plus customers of the Santa Barbara and Oxnard stores will be amongst those invited to participate.  We will also recruit volunteers from outdoor recreational groups like the Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Audubon Society, and the trail councils of Santa Barbara and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Additionally, the UC Santa Barbara Community Affairs Board (CAB) Foundation awarded $4,900 which will be used to engage 60 UCSB students on a series of volunteer trips to Anacapa Island that will take place during the fall and winter of 2014-2015.  CIR will recruit volunteers from the UCSB student body through on-campus promotions and educational programs, complete with PowerPoint presentations followed by island field work.

Through our partnership with REI and The CAB Foundation, we intend to build a greater awareness of our combined efforts to care for Anacapa Island—part of the Channel Islands National Park, and a recreational paradise enjoyed by hikers, paddlers, birders, and campers.  We are proud to partner with these sponsors and excited to share the news of their investment in our organization and mission.

With this grant funding, volunteers will be afforded with round-trip boat transportation on Island Packers and knowledgeable trip leaders.  CIR places great emphasis on education and volunteers will receive training on the identification of native and non-native plants and on proper techniques before work begins.  CIR will also present volunteers with information on the impacts of non-native species in natural areas and the history of the introduction of invasive iceplant to Anacapa Island.  Additional topics include the biology of the Channel Islands and the unique plants and animals that live there, and how community volunteers and CIR sponsors continue to collaborate to restore the native plant communities on Anacapa Island.