Our EcoSystems
Our City contains an astonishing number of ecosystems, alive & vibrant
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San Francisco still has extraordinary diversity of native plant and animal communities, including grasslands, wetlands, coastal scrub, dunes, oak woodlands, and, of course, the Estuary and the Pacific Ocean.
The city's pre-historical environment was an almost unimaginably diverse natural ecosystem.Read>
Coastal scrub habitat is found throughout much of the city. Small remnants of these ecosystems support a unique array of plants and animals.Read>
Much of San Francisco was once covered in sand dunes. Today the largest sand dunes can be found at Fort Funston. Small remnants of these ecosystems support a unique array of plants and animals.Read>
Formerly the most common habitat in San Francisco, remnants of grasslands support a wide array of wildlife. Twin Peaks, Bernal Hill, Billy Goat Hill, Bayview Hill, Mount Davidson, Corona Heights. McLaren Park, and Glen Canyon Park all have thriving grasslands.Read>
Oak woodlands are among the most characteristic of Bay Area plant communities, and made up the only wooded areas of San Francisco prior to human habitation. Harboring many insects, birds and mammals, they can be found on Yerba Buena Island, in Buena Vista Park, and in Golden Gate Park.Read>
Riparian ecosystems are environments along a watercourse or above an unusually high water table. They purify water by removing contaminants, control erosion and provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals. In San Francisco, they can be found in Glen Canyon Park, Pine Lake Park, McLaren Park, the Presidio and Lake Merced.Read>
Among the most important ecosystems in the world, wetlands produce high levels of oxygen, filter chemicals, reduce flooding and erosion, recharge groundwater, and provide critical habitat. The 509-acre Lake Merced and the 14.2-acre Mountain Lake in the Presidio are fresh water wetlands.Read>
Wetlands are among the most important ecosystems worldwide. They produce high levels of oxygen, filter chemicals, reduce flooding and erosion, recharge groundwater, and provide critical habitat. There are many different kinds of wetlands, and San Francisco has several, including freshwater, saltwater and riparian. Read>
The San Francisco Bay supports nearly 500 species of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates. It is an essential resting place, feeding area and wintering ground for millions of birds. Nearly two-thirds of the state's salmon pass through the Bay during their migration.Read>
80% of San Francisco's 232 square miles consists of water, with most of that west of the Golden Gate. A tremendous array of life can be found in this expanse of water, which includes the Farallon Islands, a national wildlife refuge supporting the largest seabird colony in the continental United States.Read>
