Beneath the freeways and the sprawl, Southern California is a genuine global biodiversity hotspot, one of only a handful in North America. Its Mediterranean climate gives rise to chaparral and coastal sage scrub found almost nowhere else, and to a stunning concentration of species living in the narrowing gaps between development. Offshore, the Channel Islands hold their own endemic world, a Galapagos in miniature.
The conservation groups here work under relentless pressure, and that sharpens them. They stitch wildlife corridors across highways so mountain lions and bobcats can move, protect the last coastal wetlands, and defend the scrublands and canyons that make this one of the richest ecosystems in the country. Their work is a race, and every acre held is a victory.
Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion
353 organizations working across this landscape.
501CTHREE
Our mission is to bring innovation to and promote awareness of energy, water, and food crisis.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon foundation
The AHLF operates the Discovery Center, an extraordinaire collection of hands on nature activities that allow visitors to “taste nature".
Algalita Marine Research and Education
Algalita's mission is to lead the world to a plastic pollution free future.
Allgoods
Allgoods creates casual consumer education to lower the barrier of entry to environmentalism.
Anza-Borrego Foundation
Anza-Borrego Foundation is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with terrestrial ecosystems. Based in Borrego Springs, CA, United States of Americ...
Aquarium of the Pacific
The fourth most-visited aquarium in the nation and one of the most-attended cultural destinations in Los Angeles County, the Aquarium of the Pacific serves 1.7 mill...
Arjarun
A micro nonprofit interested in artists and ecology.
Arlington Garden in Pasadena
We are a community supported, water-wise garden that celebrates Southern California’s mediterranean climate. We endeavor to engage, educate and demonstrate how a c...
Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy
The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy preserves land and restores Sasquatch habitat in and around the San Gabriel and Crescenta Valleys, thereby protecting natural are...
Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby is a national non-profit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, formula, clothing, and the basic necessities that every child ...
Balboa Park Conservancy
The Mission of Forever Balboa Park is to sustain, envision, and enhance Balboa Park for all visitors in partnership with the City of San Diego and in collaboration w...
Beach Ecology Coalition
Beaches provide recreation and ecosystem services for humans, and are habitats for unique animals and plants. Sustainable management is the goal.
Bear Valley Protection Society
The mission of the Bear Valley Protection Society (BVPS) is to protect, restore, and enhance the natural beauty, ecological integrity, and resilience of the San Bern...
BE SEEN Foundation, Inc
BE SEEN Foundation is on mission is to eradicate death by Colorectal Cancer for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s through educational awareness, early detection and ...
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
At Birch Aquarium at Scripps, we connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet. Our Values: Engage, Inspire, Empower We engage people in active exploration, i...
Bleu World
Catalina Island Ocean Conservation Nonprofit
B Local San Diego
We are a community of Certified B Corps in San Diego using our power to redefine the role of business and create positive impact on society.
Blue Dot Education
We do apex work focused on science, exploration, and stewardship.
Bluedot Institute
We encourage students around North America to share their projects, artwork, photography, songs, essays and stories about special initiatives so others may learn fro...
Blue Water Film Festival
Blue Water Film Festival celebrates the UN-World Water Day set March 22nd and produces the Blue Water Film Festival. 6th Annual Dates are March 20-23, 2025.
Boarding For Breast Cancer (B4BC)
Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation providing education, awareness, and survivor support programs for young people. Founded in 1996, ...
Bolsa Chica Conservancy
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is a non-profit organization that advocates for the preservation of the Bolsa Chica wetlands through education and community-based resto...
Boys & Girls Club of Malibu
Our mission is to significantly enhance the lives of all youth to fulfill their potential as caring, productive, and contributing citizens.
Brave Trails
Brave Trails’ mission is to transform LGBTQ+ youth and families into leaders through summer camp and innovative, year-round programming focused on leadership develop...
Business For Good
Business For Good San Diego (BFG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects values-aligned local business owners.
Bye Bye Plastic USA
Bye Bye Plastic is a disruptive non-profit removing single-use plastics from the music & events industry. We activate every single stakeholder of the industry from a...
Cabrillo National Monument Foundation
Our mission is to inspire people to support programs that preserve the rich cultural and natural treasures and enhance the visitor experience at Cabrillo National Mo...
California Association for Recycling All Trash
To reduce pollution by recycling and proposing alternatives to plastic.
California Center for Sustainable Energy
California Center for Sustainable Energy is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with climate / clean energy. Based in San Diego, CA, it is includ...
California Doughnut Economics Coalition
CalDEC promotes regenerative, circular and distributive economics to advance equitable human wellbeing within planetary limits and to repair our biosphere.
California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)
The California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) is a statewide, community-led alliance that works to achieve environmental justice (EJ) by advancing policy solu...
California Safe Schools
California Safe Schools (CSS) is a children's environmental health and environmental justice nonprofit committed to ensuring that all students, teachers, staff, and ...
California Seaweed Festival
The California Seaweed Festival engages families, learners, entrepreneurs, activists, and more in meaningful ways that enact stewardship while electrifying a nascent...
California Stormwater Quality Association
Advances sustainable stormwater management protective of California water resources by protecting and collecting water for our future.
California Surf Museum
The California Surf Museum serves as an international repository and resource center on the lifestyle sport of surfing and its environments
California Wildlife Center
California Wildlife Center is a nonprofit wildlife hospital that provides lifesaving treatment to injured and orphaned wildlife.
Capital & Main
Capital & Main is a nonprofit news organization whose mission is to report on inequality and climate change.
Center for Plant Conservation
Plants are essential to life on Earth. But, one in five plant species, world-wide, are threatened with extinction. From ferns to cacti, 4,400 of these are in the Un...
Challenged Athletes Foundation
CAF empowers lives through sport. We do so by providing support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles.
Changing Tides Foundation
Changing Tides enables underserved young women to build confidence through mentorship, environmental education, and the power of surfing and skating.
CicLAvia
CicLAvia is a 501(c)3 non-profit that catalyzes vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia engages with people t...
Citizens Climate Education Corporation (CCEC)
Citizens’ Climate Education (CCE) empowers everyday people to bridge divides and build political will for effective climate solutions in Congress.
City Plants
City Plants is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with climate adaptation. Based in Los Angeles, CA, United States of America, it is included in...
Client Earth
We are an environmental charity with a unique approach - we use the power of law to change the system for a brighter, healthier future.
Climate Action Reserve
THE RESERVE PROMOTES AND FOSTERS THE REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS THROUGH CREDIBLE MARKET-BASED POLICIES AND SOLUTIONS.
Climate Cents
Climate Cents highlights and supports projects that directly reduce the carbon in earth's atmosphere.
Climate Counts, DBA US Green Chamber of Commerce Institute
To promote awareness of global climate change and the need to reverse it's dangers
Climate Emergency Fund
Support disruptive nonviolent climate activism.
Climate Mental Health Network
Climate Mental Health Network addresses the mental health impacts of the climate crisis
Climate Resolve
Climate Resolve builds collaborations to champion equitable climate solutions. We connect communities, organizations and policymakers to address a global problem wit...
Coalition for Clean Air
For 50 years we've fought to protect public health, improve air quality and prevent climate change in the smoggiest State in the nation.