Watsonville Wetlands Watch (WWW) is dedicated to preserving, restoring and fostering appreciation of the wetlands of the Pajaro Valley. WWW restores wetlands, plants trees, and develops youth environmental leaders for a healthier, climate resilient Pajaro Valley.
Watsonville Wetlands Watch (WWW) will increase the tree canopy and climate resilience in Pajaro by planting trees and native plants in schools, parks, yards, neighborhoods, and commercial properties. WWW will engage the community in this project by providing job training, certification, and green career pathways for paid youth interns and young adult trainees, engaging students and volunteers to steward existing community trees, and convening local residents at bilingual events to learn about urban forestry and adopt trees.
Watsonville Wetlands Watch programs benefit North Monterey County residents, watersheds, and wildlife habitats. We are training high school interns from the Pajaro Valley and young adult workforce development trainees from CSUMB and Hartnell College in urban forestry and environmental restoration, to develop their skills and experience for green careers.Tree plantings will benefit residents through improvement of air quality, stormwater capture and water quality improvement, and shading and cooling, while providing urban forestry career education. This project will also engage students and residents in environmental stewardship, neighborhood greening, and beautification. Our urban forestry and restoration efforts also support healthy ecosystems for birds and wildlife.
I’ve always cared about the environment since I was a kid, but being taught about climate change in school made me feel helpless. I knew we had to do something, so I joined Watsonville Wetlands Watch. I’ve worked on solutions … picking up garbage, planting native plants, and teaching others about waste reduction and water conservation. I’ve taught kids about climate change and sustainability, leading cleanups and habitat restoration projects. I’ve learned that when people realize their impact, they act. Seeing that sense of responsibility emerge in younger students was a demonstration of the power of leadership. Through Watsonville Wetlands Watch, I've learned that leadership isn’t just doing something myself — it’s getting others to do it too.
- Enrique Morales, Watsonville
