The state of California maintains over 270 protected areas, which include almost one-third of California's scenic coastline, including coastal wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and dune systems. The California State Parks system covers 1.3 million acres (5,300 km²), with over 280 miles (450 km) of coastline, 625 miles (1,006 km) of lake and river frontage, nearly 18,000 campsites; and 3,000 miles (5,000 km) of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
State reserves are enviornmentally senstive areas of special interest. Access is usually restricted to day use, and there are often no concession facilites.
What’s historic and unique about this week’s California decision is that it is the first time this bold idea has been applied to the U.S. shoreline, adjacent to millions of people and multiple port communities, and is the first time that a network of marine protectedareas has been initiated throughout an entire state.
The California coast is a prime candidate for marine protectedareas that scientists have recommended to reverse damage and depletion of ocean ecosystems.
Marine protectedareas help rebuild the capital needed to sustain current and future generations of fishermen and break the cycle of boom and bust fisheries.
It includes expensive residential areas, as well as ranches and relatively wild tracts rising to 950 meters that are home for deer and mountain lions as well as 25 threatened or endangered animal and plant species.
U.S. national forests generally are multiple-use areas, but almost all the Angeles National Forest is managed as a natural area and because of its ruggedness has a relatively high degree of ecological integrity for an area adjacent to a large city (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999).
California has much to learn from other countries about protectedareas, and much to share, but it is relatively isolated from the international conservation community.
Feeds |
Contact