

JOINT STRATEGY - 2022
The California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force was sufficiently inspired by "CALREC Vision: Cross-Jurisdictional Collaboration to Advance Sustainable Outdoor Recreation in California,” the white paper sponsored by the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA), to task MLTPA with the establishment, convening, and facilitation of a Key Working Group to produce and deliver Key Actions 3.13 and 3.14 from California’s Wildfire & Forest Resilience Action Plan, which included a Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience.
Over twelve months starting in November 2021, MLTPA convened and facilitated the Sustainable Recreation/CALREC Vision Key Working Group - federal, state, and regional representatives - and produced California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience.
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THE CHALLENGE
California has faced an unprecedented wildfire crisis during the past decade, resulting in billions of dollars in damage to local economies and infrastructure, including outdoor recreation facilities and trail systems across California. Moreover, climate change has dramatically increased the length and intensity of California’s fire seasons. The 2020 fire season broke records: Five of California’s six largest fires in modern history burned at the same time. More than 4 million acres burned across the state, doubling the previous record. The following year, 2021, saw some of the most severe megafires in history, including the Dixie Fire, which became the largest single wildfire in state history and the first wildfire to burn across the width of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Wildfires in Los Angeles County and southern California in 2025 were the most destructive in the state’s history.


GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The following guiding principles provide a foundation for all of the Goals and Key Actions of the Joint Strategy, ensuring that the Joint Strategy is achieved broadly and equitably across California.
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Engage in Proactive Communication
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Prioritize Community Recovery
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Utilize Cross-Sector Integration
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Emphasize Transparency
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Engage in Partnerships and Collaboration
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Leverage Funds
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Engage with Tribes and Indigenous Communities
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Engage with Underserved and Underrepresented Communities
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Use the Best Available Science and Information
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Prioritize Equity and Inclusivity
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Promote Wildfire and Natural Disaster Resiliency
KEY ACTIONS: GOAL 1
(partial list)
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Maintain Public Access as the Climate Changes
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Develop Educational Materials Targeted at Reducing the Human Causes of Ignition
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Develop Integrated Communications Systems
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Incorporate Sustainable Outdoor Recreation into the State Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program
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Add Public Education to Forest Health Projects
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Strengthen Partnerships Between Resource Conservation Districts or Other Appropriate Partners and Land Managers
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Implement Multi-Benefit Projects in or Adjacent to the Wildland Urban Interface
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Design and Build Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure That Is Resilient to Climate Change and Wildfire
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Establish Permanent Fuel Breaks Proximate to Recreation Trails
"Integrate the provision of high-quality, sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities with forest health and resilience and wildfire and climate mitigation efforts so that all people can connect to the benefits and wonders of the natural world."


KEY ACTIONS: GOAL 2
(partial list)
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Create Statewide School Programming
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Create Interpretive, Historical, and Stewardship Educational Opportunities at Key Recreation Facilities
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Minimize Impact of Wildfire-Related Area and Facility Closures to Public Access and Recreational Use
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Engage with Local Communities During Post-Fire Recovery Planning to Expedite the Resumption of Outdoor Recreation Access
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Explore Creating an Online Outdoor Recreation Opportunities Resource: Explore creating a one-stop online outdoor recreation resource for visitors to research local, regional, and state recreation opportunities based on interest and location
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Conduct a Multi-Agency Social Science Survey to Gauge the Current Needs of Outdoor Recreation Users
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Develop Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Across the State That Provides for a Diversity of Recreation Experiences
"Plan for and provide a diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities to foster inclusive and equitable access for all Californians."
KEY ACTIONS: GOAL 3
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Improve Air Quality Advisory Communication
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Train First Responders, Community Planners, and Outdoor Recreation Staff in Mental Health First Aid and Utilize Medical Reserve Corps and Similar Volunteer Groups to Provide Psychological Support During Disasters
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Build Partnerships Between the Health and Outdoor Recreation Sectors
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Increase Opportunities for Indoor Recreation
"Provide health information, training, and alternative recreation opportunities that promote the health and well-being of all peoples, with consideration of people’s needs before, during, and after wildfires and other natural disasters."


KEY ACTIONS: GOAL 4
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Build Sustainable Outdoor-Recreation-Based Economies
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Support Fundamental Community Infrastructure
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Engage Communities Regarding Emergency Response and Land-Management Planning
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Create Post-Fire Educational and Marketing Materials
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Provide Technical Assistance to Local Businesses
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Conduct Post-Fire Economic Studies
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Develop Post-Fire Insurance Program for the Outdoor Recreation Economy
"Foster and support robust and diversified economies that enhance sustainable outdoor recreation while investing in the resilience necessary to withstand the impact of climate change, wildfires, and other disasters."
Sustainable Recreation/CALREC Vision
Key Working Group
Alexandra Stehl, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division – CA State Parks
Andrew Burrows, Lead California Outdoor Recreation Planner – Bureau of Land Management
Haley Caruso, Co-Lead of Recreate Responsibly CA and REI Manager of Brand Engagement & Impact – REI
Katherine Toy, Deputy Secretary for Access – CA Natural Resources Agency
Katy Parr, El Dorado National Forest Public Services Staff Officer – U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region
Kevin Wright, Policy & Steering Committee Member – CA Landscape Stewardship Network
Norma Edith García-Gonzalez, Director – Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation
Paul Michel, Regional Policy Coordinator, West Coast Region – NOAA
Ray Murray, Chief of Partnerships – National Park Service
Sustainable Recreation/CALREC Vision
Leadership Team
Jim Bacon, Director of Public Services, Co-Lead – U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region
Angela Avery, Executive Officer, Co-Lead – Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Nancy Parachini, Deputy Director of Public Services – U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region
Nora Campbell, Strategic Planner – U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region
Matt Driscoll, Eastern Sierra Area Representative – Sierra Nevada Conservancy
John Wentworth, President/CEO – Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation
Rita Keil, Co-Writer/Researcher – Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation
Danna Stroud, Strategist – Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Bill Keene, Lead Writer – Climate Equity Solutions Inc.
Austin McInerny, Facilitator – Consensus and Collaboration Program, College of Continuing Education, Sacramento State University
California Wildfire and Resilience Task Force
Executive Committee
STATE:
Wade Crowfoot, Co-Chair – California Natural Resources Agency
Joe Tyler – CAL FIRE
Yana Garcia – CalEPA
Sam Assefa – Office of Planning and Research
FEDERAL:
Jennifer Eberlien, Co-Chair – U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region
Richard Barhydt – U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station
LOCAL:
Ed Valenzuela – California State Association of Counties
Doug Teeter – Rural Counties Representatives of California
TRIBAL:
Don Hankins – Indigenous Stewardship Network
THE CALREC VISION (excerpt from the White Paper)...
“The California dream is a reality because millions continue to be inspired by the unique natural landscapes that define the state. But of California’s 100 million acres and the 47 million available for recreation, only 2 million are managed by state agencies, the balance being managed by the federal government."
”Now is the time to direct stewardship-focused collaboration across all agencies of government to create functional alignments and establish truly sustainable outdoor recreation for all Californians.”

