Nature for People - Greenbelt Alliance

The challenge: Many people lack access to, and information about, the Bay Area’s natural places and the solutions they provide to build more climate resilience in ways that benefit ecosystems and communities equitably.

The solution: Greenbelt Alliance is deepening the connection between humans and the natural world so that communities can leverage nature’s many benefits to steward the greenspaces and lands that are critical to thrive. Here’s how…

OUR STRATEGY

Educate

Greenbelt Alliance will provide free, guided walks and hikes as a unique and engaging way to learn about the natural benefits of the Bay Area. Our team of expert outing leaders include urban planners, docents, and naturalists all knowledgeable in the region’s policy landscape, land-use issues, ecology, and history.

Through outings and other learning opportunities like workshops and trainings, a deeper connection to our natural lands is established, driving the will to protect and steward these places for generations to come.

Advocate

Greenbelt Alliance will drive local advocacy efforts to stop development on lands that contain resources needed to adapt to climate change. We will further policies that advance new development within existing cities. We will amplify initiatives that preserve open spaces and promote urban greening opportunities.

By building community will, the right decisions will be made when it comes to protecting the lands we must rely on to build resilience to climate change. As a result, everyone will have access to nature and its multitude of benefits.

Collaborate

Greenbelt Alliance will focus on places that are being deeply affected by climate hazards. Through our Bay Area Resilience Hotspot initiative, we have identified communities that need our help the most and will collaborate with decision makers, community leaders, and residents to leverage nature to adapt.

Doing things like planting trees for shade, converting schoolyards into greenspaces, and creating resilience hubs for refuge will allow for at-risk residents to not only survive, but thrive during climate events like extreme heat.

OUR PROJECTS

Extreme Heat Mitigation

Resilience
Hubs

Greenbelt Outings

Urban Growth Boundaries

Stopping Sprawl

Extreme Heat Mitigation

We are working in places like Southwest Santa Rosa to reduce heat impacts and improve health outcomes by expanding tree canopy and access to green space.

Resilience Hubs

We are working in Gilroy to establish resilience hubs and cooling centers to provide heat refuge and community services.

Greenbelt Outings

A dedicated group of volunteers and staff lead free, guided hikes and walks throughout the region nearly every weekend of the year!

Urban Growth Boundaries

Throughout the region, we are advocating for Urban Growth Boundaries—an effective policy to protect open spaces and direct growth in the right places.

Stopping Sprawl

We are committed to driving local advocacy efforts across the region to stop sprawling developments that threaten critical natural landscapes.

LEARN MORE

A Match Made in the Greenbelt

Daniela Ades February 12, 2026

The stars aligned, and David and Serena met at a greenbelt outing over 13 years ago. Check out this Greenbelt Alliance love story.

Alamedans Show Strong Support for Adaptation Strategies that Protect the Environment

Cailin Notch February 5, 2026

As sea level rise increasingly affects daily life in Alameda, residents are clear about what they want to see along their shoreline: adaptation strategies that protect and work with the natural environment.

Huge Win: Sacred and Ecologically Vital Juristac Is Permanently Protected

Victorina Arvelo January 30, 2026

The sacred and ecologically vital site of Juristac in Santa Clara County will be permanently protected after lands are acquired for preservation.

Adaptation That Our Flooded Communities Need

Greenbelt Alliance January 21, 2026

After heavy rainfall combined with higher King Tides flooded the Bay Area, our communities and ecosystems can’t afford to wait any longer for adaptation to sea level rise.