FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Meeting and Webinar November 7, 2013 Green Infrastructure, Open Spaces, Sustainable Recreation, and Connecting People to the Natural Environment

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Agenda 9:00 – 9:45:Introduction and Overview FRAP and FRASC Update of the 2015 Criteria and Indicators GI and Connecting People to the Natural Environment in the 2010 Assessment 9:45 – 10:50: Panel Speaker Presentations and Discussion Larry Orman (Executive Director, GreenInfo Networks) Bob Kingman (Mt. Lassen Area Manager, Sierra Nevada Conservancy) Trini Juarez (Regional Landscape Architect, Region 5 U.S. Forest Service) 10:50 – 11:05 Break 11:05 – 11:50: Group Discussion 11:50 – 12:00 : Recap and Next Steps

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Introductions Fire and Resource Assessment Program (CAL FIRE) USFS Pacific Southwest Region State and Private Forestry Natural Resources Conservation Service

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Introductions And our group…

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE “Our nation’s federal, state, urban and private forests are the natural backyards for many communities and serve as society’s connection to nature. Assessments and resource strategies can attempt to conserve and enhance a Green Infrastructure that effectively connects people with their natural environment. Resource strategies can include programs that provide opportunities for children, teens and adults to recreate while gaining an appreciation for the importance of forests and open space with respect to the health, security and well-being of society” The 2010 Assessment of Forest and Range Lands: Green Infrastructure for Connecting People to the Natural Environment Excerpted from the US Forest Service State and Private Forestry Farm Bill Requirement and Redesign Strategies)

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE 2010 Status and Trends ●Declining budgets, reduced hours, deferred maintenance, park closures (?) ●Static or declining attendance/participation in many locations/activities, dramatic increases in certain activities (OHV) ●Examples of effective efforts to protect and manage GI: cross- jurisdictional, address multiple issues, involve stakeholders ●California's statewide outdoor recreation strategy is formulated through: -California Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) (CADP&R) -the Recreation Policy (State Park & Rec Commission) -CA Dept. of Parks and Rec’s OHV Recreation Division legislatively mandated Strategic Plan

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Green Infrastructure Protection

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE GI Protection by County: Federal, State, Local, Non-Profit

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Priority Landscape 1: Conserving Green Infrastructure Asset: Green Infrastructure, ranked based on nearby population Threat: Threat rank based on timing and density of future development (ICLUS)

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Example Priority Landscape 1: Conserving Green Infrastructure in Orange County

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Conserving Green Infrastructure Statewide Results

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Conserving Green Infrastructure Bioregional Results Modoc Bioregion GI abundant, threat generally low, lots of public lands Local/non-profits can protect unique amenities/opportunities San Joaquin Valley Bioregion GI limited/fragmented/high threat Non-profits important, protecting farmland also a priority Sierra Bioregion GI abundant, protected mostly at higher elevations Lots of MPL due to smaller sizes of communities

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Priority Landscape 2: Managing Green Infrastructure Asset: Recreation Areas, GI (all, ranked by nearby population) Threat: Wildfire (3X), forest pests

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Example PL 2: Managing Green Infrastructure in Orange County

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Managing Green Infrastructure High Priority Landscape by County County High Priority Landscape (acres) Los Angeles5,800 Riverside2,400 Orange2,000 Ventura1,400 San Diego1,000

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Things to Consider for the 2015 Assessment Are the PL analyses appropriate? → Conserving GI (development threat) → Managing GI (fire/pest/climate/exotics) If so, how can we do a better job….? Capturing assets (e.g. recreation areas) Capturing threats, e.g. (development, climate, exotics)

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE …More Things to Consider for the 2015 Assessment Performing the analysis & showing results Are there additional analyses/PLs? What are appropriate indicators?

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Speakers Larry Orman – Executive Director, GreenInfo Networks Bob Kingman – Mt. Lassen Area Manager, Sierra Nevada Conservancy Trini Juarez – Regional Landscape Architect, USFS Region 5

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Questions What are the greatest threats to the existing network of parks and open spaces? Are there criteria that can be used to guide the development of recreation opportunities and minimize potential impacts to sensitive species and natural habitat?

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Questions California has a demographic base that is as diverse as its landscapes. Does the current configuration of parks and open space meet the needs of demographic groups and provide equitable access to open space? Are there data sets or criteria that can be used to better understand cultural use of space and which groups have limited access to open space?

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Questions Should ecosystem services (e.g. habitat provision, protecting water resources, carbon sequestration…) be considered as an equal priority for parks and open spaces? Are there good examples of parks and open spaces being used effectively to support multiple uses (e.g. recreation, watershed protection, habitat restoration…)? If the open space is managed for multiple uses, does that mean that all uses should hold equal weight, or should some activities be given a higher priority?

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Questions Can the configuration of parks and open spaces serve as a broader network of protected areas that enhance the conservation of forest ecosystems? Given differences in land ownership and management objectives are there tools available that can help promote a broader conservation framework?

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Questions What role if any should active management play in preserving the environmental quality of open space and park lands? For example, should we encourage treatments that reduce risk of high severity wildfire or the spread of disease?

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Panel Questions Parks and open spaces (both urban and rural) provide immense value beyond recreational opportunities. Please discuss important factors and possible tools that can be used to evaluate the broader benefits from these lands.

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE BREAK Back in 15 minutes!

GI and Connecting People to Nature FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Group Discussion

Recap and Next Steps We need your help to: Identify new data Evaluate Priorities Evaluate Methods Provide information

FOREST AND RANGELANDS ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE Meeting and Webinar November 7, 2013 Our 2015 assessment will benefit greatly from your input. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this process! If you have any further comments, questions, or suggestions, please let us know. You can visit our website here: Thank You Our next meeting will be January 9 th, 2014 and we will be discussing working California rangelands. See you then!