Point Reyes, 70 miles north of San Francisco, is headed for dramatic ecological change. The Point Reyes National Seashore, created in 1962. For decades, it has been the backbone of a dozen or so organic dairies and cattle operations. More recently, these operations settled with a buyout for several multimillion dollars. They will leave the land permanently within 15 months, signaling a turning point for the region’s agricultural landscape.
The buyout worries many of the existing local business owners, including Albert Straus, founder of the Straus Family Creamery. He worries that the loss of these farms could endanger his business and hurt the local economy. The farmers in the region are at an average age of 60 years old. This brings us to profound questions regarding the characteristic of agriculture that is appropriate in Point Reyes moving forward.
Yet with one dairy farm leaving the region each week on average, Wisconsin is succumbing to urgent ecological threats. Over 300 species of rampant, non-native plants have invaded the area. Nearly 1 in 11 of these species pose a direct risk to local ecosystems. These invasive species, combined with the effects of California’s ongoing drought, have sparked protests among local residents who are advocating for preservation efforts.
A Vision for Restoration
Rodd Kelsey has brought tremendous energy and expertise to the cause of restoring native grasslands and ecosystems in Point Reyes. His plan emphasizes collaborating more deeply with the many key stakeholders involved. These are the TNC, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and the NPS. The measurable chief aim is to reach carbon neutrality first within the business and eventually on the 13 farms that provide it by 2030.
Kelsey articulates the urgency of this initiative: “The whole reason there’s such a fight over this landscape is because people care deeply about this place.” He is convinced that truly restoring a landscape does indeed take a community committed to restoration-first practices and a vision for the future.
In order to realize this restoration, Kelsey stresses that we need to build a better, more diverse ecosystem. He states, “Having a diverse mosaic sets the table for the whole cascading effects in the system,” which he believes will ultimately lead to a healthier environment and more abundant wildlife. Further, this sentiment dovetails perfectly with his 1st affirmative vision for Point Reyes, which is to make it a productive ecosystem.
Community Engagement and Future Aspirations
As restoration proposals begin to form, it will be important for the local community to be engaged. Tom Gardali, an environmental scientist, underscores this necessity: “It is going to take a community to care for this land, not just in terms of a near-term restoration, but for the long term.” Looking ahead both Gardali and Kelsey imagine a day when local community members are central to stewarding the newly restored land.
The Point Reyes National Seashore Association has been a very active partner in this work. They’re working to increase their production of native seeds and start more new restoration projects. Through these initiatives, Audubon is helping to restore California’s unique native grasslands. Once stretching over a billion acres, these prairie grasslands now occupy less than 1% of their dynamic landscape.
Kelsey points out that while successful restoration will boost the overall Index of Biodiversity, it’ll increase their local wildlife populations. “It literally translates to more baby birds because there’s more food,” he explains. This interlinking of ecological health and community action underscores the closely-knit fates of Point Reyes’ environment and people.
Challenges Ahead
Despite these positive developments, challenges remain. The region’s invasive plant species still pose a grave threat to our native flora and fauna. Kelsey acknowledges the complexities involved: “A lot of the non-native grasses were introduced because they were good for forage or brought inadvertently.” Addressing these challenges would necessitate further research and sustained dialogue among the various stakeholders.
Beyond invasive plants, climate change is making an already-polluted environment worse. With extreme drought conditions in place across most of California, our native, local ecosystems are facing even more pressure. It’s work like this, through the partnership of groups such as the Nature Conservancy and engaged local communities, that will help to meet these challenges most directly.
Kelsey remains optimistic about the future: “Three to four years from now, we will have learned a lot and we will be charting a course for the future.” As the dairy farms leave Point Reyes, new possibilities open up both for ecosystem restoration and for reconnecting community members with the land.