Who We Are
Sonoma Ecology Center works to address challenges related to water supply and quality, open space, rural character, biodiversity, energy, climate change, and a better quality of life for all residents.
Since 1990, we’ve worked to increase appreciation and stewardship of Sonoma Valley’s natural heritage and create measurable benefits in areas of land, water, climate change and biodiversity.
Vision
We envision a future where people, land, water, and wildlife thrive.
Mission
Our mission is to work with our community to identify and lead actions that achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley.
Values
We embrace and practice the following values in order to achieve our vision
Education
Sharing science-based information equips people to make the best decisions for themselves and the Earth. We provide education programs for youth, teens, and adults to support an informed and empowered community.
Stewardship
Every action counts. Individual participation is essential to protect and restore our natural resources. We engage community members and other organizations as partners in our work.
Collaborate
Most problems have common-ground solutions that can be discovered through open discussion and innovation. We strive to work with all stakeholders—including residents, government, agriculture, academia, and business—to help solve our community’s complex problems.
Respond to Change
We are an alert and agile organization, recognizing and responding to the evolving opportunities and needs of Sonoma Valley and the world beyond.
Ecological Foundations:
We value ecosystems and the biodiversity and human systems they support. We are inspired by the beauty of Sonoma Valley. We work to protect and restore native species and habitats of our region for future generations.
Science-based
Watershed management actions should be informed by science and local empirical data. We conduct environmental monitoring to inform local and regional decisions. Adaptive management improves our effectiveness over time.
Sustainability
Economic vitality rests on a foundation of social well-being, which in turn rests on a foundation of ecological health. We seek multi-benefit solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing our community.
Lead by Example
We learn from others and create and share models, techniques, and tools that others can use.
Connectedness
All people benefit from the beauty and services provided by the environment around us. We know these benefits have been unfairly distributed in the past and still are today. All people should feel connected to and have access to the natural world around us, be empowered to act, to benefit from our work, and be protected from climate threats and natural hazards.
Origin Story
Sonoma Ecology Center was founded in 1990 after that year’s Earth Day celebration on the Sonoma Plaza. Sonoma Valley’s Earth Day drew thousands of people together around the idea that Sonoma Valley is a special place we live in and love, and it is worthy of our care.
Parades, green technology demonstrations, music, films, food, dancing, and speeches marked this momentous celebration.
After Earth Day in 1990, we knew that something important had happened. We also saw that the real work still lay before us. Building on this momentum, Sonoma Ecology Center was founded to continue the celebration and bridge-building that Earth Day had launched, and help our community take care of this place we all love.