John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – About 250,000 acres in public lands could be preserved under a bill proposed by U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24).
Carbajal says he plans the reintroduction of his Central Coast Heritage Protection Act. He claims it is in response to “recent attacks on federal environmental protections” from the Trump administration.
The bill designate approximately 250,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness, the highest form of federal protection available.
Carbajal said it is, “the highest form of federal protection available. It also lays the foundation to create a 400-mile long Condor National Recreation Trail, stretching from Los Angeles to Monterey County.”
He said he was “angry and upset” at the thought of the area falling into the hands of excessive forest clearing or oil exploration drilling.
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps said she enjoyed playing in the wilderness as a child, and still hikes regularly. “It’s where wildlife thrives. It’s where our water sources begin. And the Carrizo Plain, the largest remaining native grassland in California and one of the state’s most intact ecosystems. (It’s) home to 13 endangered species. “
What has elevated the concern is action coming from the Trump Admiinistration to open up areas for example, to clear forest land for fire prevention. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in June the administration is rescinding what is called the 2001 Roadless Rule to open the lands up for the thinning of the forests and the overall health of the forests.”
Linda Castro with CalWild said, “one of the the biggest values that I see in this bill is protecting this for all of us to be able to access these places. They won’t be sold off, to be mined or logged.”
She also said, the Carrizo Plain could be at risk even though it is protected now.
.Protecting wilderness areas has had bipartisan support in this area dating back decades.
Bryant Baker with Forestwatch said, “the California Wilderness Bill, which was one of the largest wilderness bills in our state’s history, that was signed into law by Ronald Reagan when he was president in the 80s. So, wilderness protections have actually been bipartisan historically. ” He also went back to local Republican Congressman Robert Lagomarsino who supported wilderness protections about 40 years ago when he was in office.”
There’s also an economic component to the bill as it relates to outdoor recreation.
Linda Paladino is a director with Toad and Co. a sustainable outdoor clothing manufacturer based in Santa Barbara said, “as an outdoor industry business, we know firsthand that expanding public lands and wilderness designations is the foundation for a thriving outdoor, recreation based economy.” She said the outdoor and adventure lifestyle is ever growing and the public is buying clothing and supplies year-round. “We use our business voice for good by giving back to nonprofit organizations, being active members of our community, and advocating for expanded access and conservation to public lands.”
The bill would expand access to public spaces and Paladino said it “stimulates a vibrant local economy that benefits businesses like ours, as well as families throughout the Central Coast.”
Public lands are “the backbone of a $1.2 -trillion outdoor recreation industry, and in California, outdoor industry accounts for 2.1% of the overall GDP. That’s more than double that of agriculture,” she said.
There was also a reference the rich history of the forest land. Carbajal said, “this would protect not only, our species, it would protect the ecosystem as a whole, but also cultural resources.”
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