Range of the Condor National Heritage Area

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A organizational summary by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Overview

The Range of the Condor National Heritage Area is a proposed new National Heritage Area (NHA) spanning an area defined by the current range of the California Condor.

This NHA designation would facilitate collaboration between stakeholders (including government agencies and non-governmental organizations) for preservation, maintenance, project planning, and other land management duties throughout the area. NHAs also receive advising from the National Park Service (NPS) on technical and planning issues, as well as limited financial assistance.

Local Coordinating Entity

<What is a local coordinating entity and what would they do here? Who might be a good candidate to be the LCR for this NHA? Conservancy for the Range of the Condor? Precedent for a nonprofit to be the LCR at the Illinois Michigan Canal Heritage Area. (interplay with NHA and Conservancy pages)>

Key Partners

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There are many organizations that manage land and wildlife within the proposed Range of the Condor National Heritage Area. These organizations and their potential roles are summarized below, with further details tabulated in a separate page.

National Park Service 
...
Bureau of Land Management 
...
US Department of Fish and Wildlife 
...
California Department of Fish and Wildlife 
...
United States Forest Service (USFS) 
The USFS manages the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) which is located in Southern and Central Coastal California. As of 2014, there were 103 California Condors surveyed in the LPNF. [1] Additionally, within the southern part of the LPNF lies the Sespe Condor Sanctuary which provides critical habitat, wildlife refuge, and land management for the protection of the California Condor.
US Army 
<why they would be a part of this?>


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) manages over 7,500 square miles of coastal ocean along the Central Coast within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary. These marine sanctuaries exemplify the strong connection between the Central Coast region and protection of the natural environment, and they generate large amounts of tourism and recreational revenue by drawing interest to the the beauty of this region. NOAA conducts large-scale research and monitoring programs along the coast, and collaborates with many local research institutions and other organizations (see Organizations involved in the management of California's Central Coast Region) to promote environmental stewardship and future resiliency.
The NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) also manages commercial and recreational fisheries within the Central Coast region, and is responsible for issuing permits related to the Endangered Species Act. NMFS coordinates with Regional Fishery Management Councils and other local partners, funds fisheries research, and provides jobs to many coastal-dependent communities.
Native American Tribes 
The California Condor has been an important symbol that represents the wilderness heritage of the state. It has been regarded as the "most impressive and majestic flying bird in North America" and soon attracted the attention of North American Native peoples [2]. Archaeologists have found evidence to suggest the use of California Condors during rituals of early peoples in California [3]. Other ceremonies included dancers wearing capes of condor skins and feathers [4]. Native peoples believed condors could "infuse" them with special powers [5]. Because of their extraordinary eyesight, some tribes within the California central coast region believed wearing cloaks of condor feathers would grant them powers to find lost valuables and people [6].

Vision

The vision for the Range of the Condor National Heritage Area includes all the traditional benefits NHAs confer to a region, in addition to novel benefits at this particular area, including:

  • Preservation of habitat, especially for animals significant to the area's heritage like California Condors.
  • Continuity between the Range of the Condor NHA and adjacent protected lands and coastal waters, offering exciting opportunities for research and recreation across uninterrupted wildlands, from the mountains to the sea.
  • Increased public access
  • Economic activity + jobs
  • Eco-tourism boon

The Range of the Condor National Heritage Area was originally proposed by the Conservancy for the Range of the Condor and former Congressman Sam Farr.

Related Links

References

  1. Los Padres Forest Watch https://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/california-condor/
  2. Reference text https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23527
  3. Reference text https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23527
  4. Reference text https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23527
  5. Reference text https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23527
  6. Reference text https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23527

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.