When envisioning habitat restoration and preservation, few people imagine the intense grid of the San Gabriel Valley. Indeed, even most lifelong residents of the valley are at a loss to describe any natural features in the Valley at all, much less any worth preserving or enhancing. And yet, numerous natural [areas], some quite large defy the choking constraints of intense urbanization and thrive here. A number of these [areas] still boast greater biodiversity than many pristine habitats in other less developed areas of the country.