SBPC's First Intern

By Claudia Etrillard

My name is Claudia Etrillard, I am SBPC’s first intern! I grew up in Redondo Beach going on walks, runs, and bike rides along the Esplanade. I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing SBPC’s astonishing work on the bluffs over the years. Every time I come home from college on break, my camera roll is full of pictures from the new blooms on the Esplanade Bluffs.

My passion for California native habitat conservation sparked my senior year of high school when I did a research project on the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly. I’d never seen this tiny butterfly before, but I was so excited to have learned about this unique species that only exists in this region. However, through my research, I noticed this butterfly had lost most of its habitat and population due to (put simply) grass lawns and concrete.

I was determined to find a way to engage and educate the community about the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. I led nature walks, handed out seed packets donated by the Theodore Payne Foundation, and worked with Nature for All on the 2021 City Nature Challenge with iNaturalist.

This project has stuck with me ever since and inspired the path I’m currently on. I’m now entering my senior year of college and pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and Architecture at Middlebury College in Vermont. You might be thinking, “Sounds cool! What does that mean…?” My studies explore the connectivity between humans and nature from the perspective of how we build our lives on this planet. I look into how our built environment has evolved into what it is today and how it has impacted our lives and the surrounding environment.

I’m especially curious about the relationships between urban spaces and nature. In Los Angeles, urban development has critically disrupted our unique Chaparral ecosystem. Native plant habitats are threatened by invasive species, development, and climate change. Climate resiliency is one of the great benefits of native plant habitats; they sequester carbon, control soil erosion, reduce water consumption, and are central to a balanced ecosystem. According to the Trust for Public Land’s Park Score, Los Angeles ranks 88th out of the top 100 cities in the country on park equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage. (I must note that this score does not account for preservation of native habitat)…

Los Angeles lacks sufficient quality and accessible greenspaces, especially in low-income neighborhoods. Mental and physical health concerns are among the many factors that are deeply impacted by the lack of quality greenspace accessibility, and there are severe health disparities as a result. Los Angeles needs to invest more in its green spaces. Lives have changed as a result of increased access to greenspaces. Human health and climate improvements are just the beginning of the numerous benefits they provide.

 Now, what if we designed those greenspaces with native plant habitats? Imagine all the good we could do for our unique plant and animal species like the El Segundo Blue Butterfly.

Claudia volunteering at Wilderness Park

Parks are not the only places that matter. Our home gardens, sidewalks, parking lots, street medians, and schools - all public and private land matter in improving our greenspaces and restoring native habitats. We have the power and responsibility to restore the ecosystem that we live WITH.

 This is why I’m excited to work with the South Bay Parkland Conservancy this summer. This organization empowers the communities of the South Bay to become stewards of our unique ecosystem and preserve our native species by turning underutilized parklands into thriving native habitats. I’ve had the pleasure of mapping out all of SBPC’s thirteen projects and counting with thousands of hours, plants, and hundreds of volunteers to celebrate. SBPC has evolved tremendously since its founding in 2004 and has made a remarkable impact on our community.

I’m deeply honored to work with such motivated, kind, and inspiring individuals. Everyone I’ve met does this out of pure dedication and compassion for the South Bay and Southern California natives. I’m grateful to have worked with SBPC, whether it was pulling weeds, watering, meeting volunteers, or making maps. This experience will live with me forever. I can’t wait for the next time I return home and see the new plantings along its projects!