Present day San Francisco has altered dramatically since the time of the Ohlones. The landscape, climate, wildlife, residents and way of life have dramatically transformed to the metropolis we know today.

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Today, many of the birds and animals from the time of the Ohlones are no longer present while other species have diminished in number. Suisun Marsh and a few other wetlands are the only remnants of the abundant swamp-life that once existed in the Bay Area. Even the animals’ behavior has changed from fearless of the early European explorers to present-day aversion of human contact. Many of the native plants and animals have been replaced by invasive species. Scotch broom is an example of an invader that has aggressively taken over native habitats and is causing environmental, health and economic harm. The NRDC states, “the San Francisco Bay-Delta is the most invaded aquatic ecosystem in North America, and may be the most invaded estuary in the world.”

The altered landscape is most evident by the manmade metropolis that now covers what, at one time, was a vast expanse of untouched land. However, in comparison with green areas in other cities, San Francisco prides itself on an abundance of parks and open space. The ‘green network’ includes; Golden Gate Park which spans 1000 acres, the 991 acres of open space in the Presidio, over 1 million acres of protected open space in the surrounding Greenbelt and many other sites.

The homogenous Ohlone have been replaced with a plethora of cultures spanning from all continents of the world. Currently, residents of American Indian or Alaska Native descent constitute 0.6% of the City’s population and own 0.5% of the businesses. Tribal groups representative in and surrounding the Bay Area include Ohlone, Miwok, Yokuts, Maidu, Wintun, Pomo, Wappo and those of other tribal affiliations that have relocated to the region. The ethnic and cultural diversity of San Francisco also includes; Chinese, Hispanic, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Croatian-American, African-American, Lesbian/Bi/Gay, and many more. The professional and economic diversity is as diverse as the residents. While modern-times no longer mandate hunting and gathering, the professions of San Franciscans range in variety including the arts, medicine, education, finance, medical science, technology and tourism.