MINIMAL IMPACT

When Terranea was first developed, no land was removed from the area, with existing structural and raw materials recycled during site preparation. Forty-five mature trees from previous occupant Marineland were boxed and then replanted throughout the site.

A natural irrigation and water treatment system, through a series of wet ponds and vegetated wetland channels called bioswales, enhance water quality while serving as a habitat for native avian species. First flush rainfall collection systems called storm filters also reduce and treat the runoff of pollutants.

Terranea’s Green Team continues to invest in the expansion of its commitment to sustainability and green practices. In addition to its food waste recycling program, the resort’s partially consumed, wholly usable toiletries left in guestrooms are donated to the Midnight Mission in Downtown Los Angeles. The resort also collaborates with Chefs to End Hunger, a nonprofit organization that redistributes prepared food that would normally go to waste in hotels, restaurants and other food service operations to local food agencies serving meals to those in need.

As a result of these efforts, the resort was named the Platinum Adrian Award winner for Leader in Sustainable Tourism by National Geographic and Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. Additionally, the South Bay Business Environmental Coalition honored Terranea with its SoCal Environmental Excellence Development Award for Pollution Prevention and Environmental Leadership. The resort also earned the California Hotel & Lodging Association’s Star of the Industry Award for Good Earthkeeping.

NATURAL ENCOUNTERS

Guests can explore more than 14 acres of wildlife habitat surrounding the resort. Terranea’s native plant palette features coastal species indigenous to Palos Verdes and the Channel Islands.

The development team worked diligently to restore, protect and preserve the ecological balance of the area by replacing non-native plants with indigenous ones locally cultivated and grown by the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy to reinforce biodiversity. Pesticides and fertilizers are limited to those that are either organic in nature or pose no residual effect on the environment.

Among the native animal species that frequent the resort, the El Segundo Blue Butterfly is one of the most endangered. California Blue and Pacific Gray whales migrate through the waters just 50 yards offshore, within view of Terranea nearly year-round. Dolphins, sea lions and a variety of tide pool sea creatures also populate the waters off the costal bluffs.

On April 25, Terranea will celebrate five decades of Earth Day with an itinerary of amazing programs. In the morning, you’re invited to create herb, flower and vegetable seed bombs, with proceeds benefitting Palos Verdes School Gardens (9 a.m. to noon, $5 suggested donation). At pointe discovery, guests can choose to learn about landfill diversion or plant native wildflower seeds to take home (9 a.m. to noon, $5 suggested donation). Right after, share your cookie-decorating creativity and learn more about the endangered Blue Butterfly at nearby sea beans (11 a.m. to 1 p.m., $4 per cookie).

If the water is your passion, take the Kelp Forest Cleanup Kayak Tour (10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., $80) and pick up litter along the pristine Marine Protected Area. Hosted by Art To Grow On, Inc., you can also create your own beach frame using seashells, stones and sand as a way of honoring our oceans and planet (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $10).

For more information on Terranea’s Earth Day Celebration, visit terranea.com/events.

TERRANEA SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES BY THE NUMBERS

4 pools

Treated with salt water in lieu of a fully chlorinated system

13 acres

Of restored kelp forests in two coves

807,131+

Single-use H20 bottles saved from landfill since installation of FloWater machines

41 sustainability ambassadors

On the Green Team from 25 departments

65,000 tons

Of on-site stone quarried and crushed to utilize under roadways and walkways before opening

122,130 pounds

Of food waste diverted from landfills through the Biodigester in 2017

8.1 tons

Of surplus food donated to Chefs to End Hunger