The rare San Fernando Valley Spineflower – once feared extinct – has been thriving at Valencia and beyond as part of a unique private-public conservation partnership between FivePoint and state and federal resource agencies.
FivePoint has been monitoring and enhancing existing spineflower populations on its property at Valencia. In 2018, the spineflower was reintroduced by FivePoint to repopulate parts of its historic range in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The innovative re-introduction efforts underway are part of a multi-year agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FivePoint, which has dedicated a total of $8 million and 1,500 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties to support long-term spineflower conservation efforts.
Since 2018, four new populations have been established through seeding and habitat enhancement efforts with reproduction of millions of robust spineflower plants. The collaborative efforts of FivePoint, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and US Fish and Wildlife Service have developed a scientifically-driven framework to reintroduce the plant in areas it had been missing from for over 50 years. As a result, the plant – once a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act – is no longer at risk of extinction.
In a story posted on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website, Assistant Field Supervisor Cat Darst said the institution remains committed to working closely with FivePoint and the botanical community to ensure the San Fernando Valley spineflower remains a part of the Southern California landscape for years to come. “The level of commitment to this plant is unprecedented,” she said.