Earth Day: Our Power, Our Planet

As climate pressures intensify, it’s easy to feel like so much is slipping beyond our control. But protecting and restoring open space gives us the power to use nature itself as a defense against extreme heat, flooding, wildfire and other climate‑driven threats. When we work together to care for the land, we’re not just preserving beauty; we’re building resilience.

The 2026 Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” celebrates this momentum. It reminds us that when communities, agencies and regional partners work together, we can create meaningful, lasting change. Not someday...but right now, at the local level.

Here’s how collaboration across Santa Clara Valley is already driving impact in 2026 and strengthening the open space that sustains us all: 

Advancing Wildlife Crossings in Coyote Valley 

In January, our partners at Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced that the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) approved a contract with an engineering firm to design plans for a wildlife crossing in Coyote Valley. This collaborative effort will help sensitive native species safely cross from the Diablo Range to the Santa Cruz Mountains on land that has been protected by the Open Space Authority and the City of San José. Read more about the wildlife crossing milestone and collaboration between POST and VTA here. 

Building a Network to Support Farmers 

At the start of the year, the Open Space Authority launched our Farm Program Vision, a new initiative that will help guide how our agency collaborates with and supports local agriculture over the next five years. Farms, farmers, farmworkers and ranchers are an essential part of our local food system – our goal is to become a resource and partner for those who care for the land and provide food and other products for the local community. Learn more about the Farm Program Vision here. 

Connecting & Catalyzing Change 

The Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network partnered with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the Open Space Authority to host the inaugural Science & Stewardship Symposium. This first-of-its-kind event brought together people who care for the land in the Santa Cruz Mountains for a day of meaningful networking and community building. Participants of the symposium met new colleagues within the conservation field, learned how others are tackling common challenges and brainstormed ways in which collaboration can play a key role in advancing our collective goals. Explore the key takeaways from the symposium here.

10 Year Anniversary: Urban Grant Program 

In March, the Open Space Authority announced the 15 schools, organizations and community groups who will receive nearly $1 million in funding through our Urban Grant Program to provide hands-on environmental education, urban agriculture, habitat stewardship and climate resilience programming to underserved youth, families and communities in Santa Clara Valley. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the program which has enhanced how residents of all ages connect with and access nature. Read our grantee announcement here. 

Collective Solutions for Conservation 

The Open Space Authority held a press conference in March to announce the collaborative effort to collocate a new LS Power Grid California high-voltage converter station on an existing PG&E substation property instead of a prime piece of agricultural land in Coyote Valley. This joint decision protects wildlife corridors in the state-sanctioned Coyote Valley Conservation Program Area while increasing the electric capacity of the south bay. Learn more about this synergistic partnership that demonstrates how collaboration can create innovative solutions to conservation. 

Thank you to our partners and collaborators who have helped make positive local change in 2026! Join the Open Space Authority as we continue to celebrate the Earth Day theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” with two FREE family-friendly events at Santana Row in San José on April 19 and at the Morgan Hill Community Center on April 25, 2026.