Public forests are often put to multiple disturbing uses (e.g., recreation, logging, mining). Protecting these forests from certain or all extractive activities is more likely to result in provision of ecosystem services.
Recreation is an important social activity on rangelands and in forests. It can include many activities, but sight-seeing, wildlife-viewing, and walking/hiking are typically the most popular. This indicator is a measure of the support of particular areas for recreation activities.
Recreational areas include campgrounds, hiking/bicycling trails, wildlife-viewing areas, motorized recreation areas, and swimming areas. These are all important types of areas for outdoor recreational enjoyment of natural areas.
The monetary value generated by the economic sector associated with recreation, outdoor education, and tourism. Recreation, outdoor education, and tourism are a product of forests that is consumed. The money generated from these industries contributes to the wellbeing of nearby communities.
The public enjoys many outdoor activities at recreation areas, which provide them with many benefits, as well as economically benefitting nearby communities.
How much California landscape is being protected from conversion that may serve to provide cultural, social, and spiritual needs for Californians. Acres of forest, range, and agriculture land protected under conservation easement or fee simple purchase for the purpose of preserving resource quality, open space, and rural amenities.
Trends in use will be measured by number of visits per type of use, for different public agency lands (national forests, national parks, state parks, etc.)
