Report details threat of climate change on California state parks

A groundbreaking report released by the California State Parks Foundation emphasizes the urgent need to address climate change effects on state parks and utilize these areas in the battle against this global crisis. Titled “Building a Climate-Resilient California State Park System: Preserving Parks for Future Generations,” the report proposes legislative action focused on safeguarding the future of California’s natural treasures.

“We will lose 75% of the coastline beaches by 2100. So, this is a state parks issue because state parks manage a quarter of the coastline as state beaches. Already in the big storm events that we’ve had the last few winters, we are seeing a lot more coastal erosion,” said Rachel Norton, executive director of the California State Parks Foundation. Her concerns reflect rising fears as California confronts worsening wildfires, coastal erosion, and habitat loss.

The report emphasizes a series of seven definitive measures including boosting funds for strategies countering rising sea levels, wildfire resilience, and expansion of the state parks system. It also urges the incorporation of state parks into California’s 30×30 initiative, aiming to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030.

“We are seeing the increasing effects of the climate crisis up close and personal in state parks,” noted Claire Schlotterbeck, executive director of Hills For Everyone, stressing the adverse impacts of climate-induced disasters in Chino Hills State Park. “The recommendations outlined in this report would help us protect Chino Hills for its own innate value but also as a key component of climate resilience in California.”

This call for action is echoed by John Roney, park manager of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. “This document is more than just a report; it’s a call to action for all Californians and for our leaders,” Roney said. “It lays out a clear path to safeguard our state parks from the ravages of climate change, ensuring they remain a source of joy and inspiration for everyone.” The Nuns Fire in 2017 and the Glass Fire in 2020 damaged 98% of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

As the foundation presents a path forward, other organizations like Climate Resolve, Tahoe Conservancy, and Save the Redwoods League, alongside locals, heed the call, rallying behind the cause.

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