The ascent to peak health: Measuring the state of a mountain’s natural resources
O'Herron M. 2018. The ascent to peak health: Measuring the state of a mountain’s natural resources. Park Science. 34(1):54-59,79
Mt. Tam’s four public agency land managers have the responsibility of caring for one of the most ecologically rich and beloved places in the San Francisco Bay Area. The mountain’s natural resources provide numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits; however, these all depend on the mountain’s overall health and the well-being of the constituent species that make up each of its interconnected ecosystems. A recent collaboration among Mt. Tam’s land managers, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the scientific community used the most current data and best expert judgment to understand and evaluate the mountain’s ecological health. This process and its resulting products have provided an important benchmark by which managers can measure future change across jurisdictional boundaries, and have opened up new opportunities for research, collaboration, and public engagement.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- O'Herron, Michelle
- Units
- GOGA
- Keywords
- ecological health assessment, ecological indicators, ecological metrics, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County Parks, Marin Municipal Water District, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mt. Tam, One Tam, Tamalpais Lands Collaborative (TLC)