Conservation of California Walnut in the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains

We present background information about the ecology, distribution, and conservation status of California walnut and review the mechanisms that should be, but are not, protecting it in the environmental review process under California law. Although the City of Los Angeles has a native tree protection ordinance, in practice the ordinance does not preclude removal of trees for development; does not provide for any replacement of habitat area, which would be essential for mitigation of biological impacts; and does not even require that any replacement trees are of the same species as the species removed. As a result, the area supporting California walnut and its associated natural communities continues to shrink and become more fragmented.