Carrizo Plain National Monument and the Protection of Sensitive Rare Species and Historically Cultural Values
Abstract
In 2001, President Clinton officially designated the Carrizo Plain National Monument in California a protected area. It is the largest remaining area of land of the original San Joaquin Valley habitat, making it of prime historic and scientific interest and value.
The monument is currently managed by three overlapping entities - the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy. This arrangement is problematic as to whose responsibility is and to what. In addition, a major problem is both securing of funding and the allocating of that funding for the maintenance of the monument and the vital research that is being conducted within the monument. Going forward, there are many possibilities for better managing this important historical and cultural area.
The Problem:
Using the Antiquities Act of 1906, President Clinton in 2001 officially designated the Carrizo Plain National Monument in California a protected area. The Carrizo Plain is the largest remaining area of land of the original San Joaquin Valley habitat, making it of prime historic and scientific interest and value. This area is extremely vital to the survival of its habitats and the wild life it supports.
According to Bureau of Land Management the primary benefit of Carrizo Plain becoming a monument was to ensure the continued protection of the land and this area is vital to research opportunities and the knowledge learned from Carrizo Plain can be applied to other areas. Carrizo Plain houses many rare and biodiverse species. Carrizo Plain is also home to many recreational activities, including hiking, camping with permit, bicycling, and horseback riding, wildflower viewing, and hunting. These recreational activities for the public are allowed on publicly held land, but privately own lands are exempt (Bureau of Land Management 2017).
The national monument area and the overall Carrizo Plain, which includes both state owned land and private land, is currently managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Nature Conservancy. These three agencies (two government and one nonprofit) all overlap each other in overseeing this particular area. This arrangement is problematic as to what responsibilities each entity controls. In addition, government agencies have very complicated bureaucracies to go through before any money is allocated or rules are decided upon and enforced (Bureau of Land Management 2017).
Going forward, the entities overseeing the monument propose that the existing regulations designed to protect sensitive natural and cultural resources will continue to be enforced (BLM). Livestock grazing, as part of a research program to maintain a healthy ecosystem, biodiversity and for rare species will continue, as will the exemption from any mining exploration (Bureau of Land Management 2017).
Contributory factors to the problem:
The major issue to the proper management of Carrizo is finding funding and the allocation of that funding to maintain the monument and continue its vital work. “Adequacy of Budged to Implement RMP. Members of the public have expressed concern that the BLM may not be able to implement the objectives and actions within the RMP due to budget constraints, and have questioned how the plan will take budget issues into account” (Albino page xxx 1.5.5, Adequacy of Budged to Implement RMP 2010).
Policy objectives:
It is my opinion that the private sector, i.e. a nonprofit entity, can manage the monument much more efficiently than any government agency.
Policy options:
One possibility is that the Nature Conservancy could take over and be the primary overseer of the Carrizo Plain National Monument. As a professional nonprofit organization, the Nature Conservancy can manage and raise much needed funds from philanthropy and other sources.
Another possibility is that an endowment fund be established and another nonprofit organization be created and put in charge to manage the monument. This could easily be achieved by hiring professional fund raising people who are paid employees. There are billions of dollars available for the right professional to access. First, incorporate the nonprofit by filing a 501(C) (3) tax exempt status. Taking the example of the World Wildlife Foundation, a very successful entity can be incorporated similarly for Carrizo Plain National Monument “using 4% for administration, 11% for fundraising and 85% for program expenses” (World Wildlife Foundation).
An alternative to the nonprofit option is to create within the Bureau of Land Management a department just to undertake nonprofit fund raising. This undertaking must not be mixed with the bureau’s other businesses.
There is also a proposal in the “Proclamation of Carrizo Plain National Monument,” under the title “Alternatives Including the Proposed Action,” which suggests a more “Hands Off” approach to resource management; meaning limit or prohibit public access and grazing to the monument. “This would enhance the natural processes with minimal human interference. No grazing, no recreation, no smaller hiking trails network. Access to rock art sites must not be allowed. Only minimal interventions will restore the historic and prehistoric sites from natural decay and destructions” (CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLA AND RECORD OF DECISION).
Advantages of these suggested policy options:
The advantages of the nonprofit management of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, whether it be the Nature Conservancy or a new entity, is that the funds are allocated to places that are vital to the continuation of the research projects. The Nature Conservancy in particular has a stellar track record for raising funds. While park rangers manage the safety and security of the monument, other professionals conduct vital research. In that way everyone working for the park knows their particular specialties. Albino suggests, “Pursue stable funding source to address questions regarding the effectiveness of livestock grazing in meeting goals. Design studies to access the effects of the proposed livestock grazing program on plants and animals. Acquire remaining private lands to protect and enhance natural and cultural values” (Albino 41, 2010).
Disadvantages of the suggested policy options:
Creating a nonprofit department within the BLM would only add more complications to the existing issue. Government is very bad at handling money efficiently and would only add to government bureaucracy. Besides, the BLM has many other parks to manage (CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLA AND RECORD OF DECISION).
In addition, the BLM has too many regulations and ideas on its books, and the result is always the same - inefficient management of whatever area they are in charge of. In the case of Carrizo, these current policies are not carrying out the full potential of the monument. For example, the BLM often comes up with ideas to raise funds, such as allowing ecotourism and other grazing methods, but these barely keep up with the needs of the monument. The fact of the matter is, ecotourism which, for example, was brought to Baha California to stop excessive fishing, did not work. The poor fisherman did not benefit from whale watching tourism. We must learn a lesson from this about allowing the public the privilege of enjoying recreational activities in the designated area of Carrizo Plain National Monument. It is not solving the problem. The funds gained from these activities barely feed the employees of the monument.
Evaluation criteria:
All of these proposed methods can only be achieved by having sufficient funds, and that can only be done by a nonprofit organization. It might be necessary that this particular area be handed over to a separate entity. Not an NGO, but the formation a separate whose only responsibility is to oversee Carrizo Plain National Monument and that agency part of a nonprofit organization. One only has to look at the successes of both the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Foundation to know that this is highly feasible.
Final Policy Recommendations:
I agree with and support the proposal to cut off public access, grazing and any other human interference. This would help preserve these prehistoric sites from further destruction. Replacement of the monies lost from these activities can only be achieved by having sufficient funds for the monument and these funds can best be raised by a nonprofit entity.
In my opinion, a new executive order bill must be put in place by the president of the U.S. to turn over the management of the monument to a nonprofit entity, either the Nature Conservancy or a new entity. This nonprofit organization should hire scientists, anthropologists, ecologists, biologists, geologists, and whoever else it needs to run the monument. Federal funds must be allocated to the startup and formation of the nonprofit 501 (3) (C) for the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Within the first year funds will be collected. As time goes by, the nonprofit for the Carrizo Plain National Monument will stand on its own accord.
Cited Works
Albino J, (2010). Carrizo Plain National Monument (N.M.), Resource Management Plan.
Rep. Capps attends 15th anniversary Carrizo Plain National Monument event. (2016, Jun 01). Targeted News Service Retrieved from http://summit.csuci.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.summit.csuci.edu:2048/docview/1793527140?accountid=7284
Retrieved from:
https://books.google.com/books?id=jhYyAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA117&lpg=RA1-PA117&dq=How+much+funding+it+take+to+manage++Carrizo+plain&source=bl&ots=QAAbgu1mz0&sig=59IpDps9nhMvqG0VayWQcIT0o3Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg6_SFs6XTAhVLlFQKHeFDCeoQ6AEIOTAE#v=onepage&q=How%20much%20funding%20it%20take%20to%20manage%20%20Carrizo%20plain&f=false
Retrieved from:
https://www.blm.gov/nlcs_web/sites/ca/st/en/prog/nlcs/Carrizo_Plain_NM/heritage.html
