Natural History Wanderings

California’s Dudleya, precious native succulents, are a step closer to direct legal protection today thanks to Asm. Christopher Ward of San Diego. The California Assembly has unanimously approved Asm. Ward’s AB 223, a bill making it explicitly illegal to harvest Dudleya from the wild without a permit and the first California legislation to specifically address the growing problem of plant poaching. 

Now, the Senate will review and vote; if passed there, the bill will await the Governer’s signature this fall.