Stakeholders

While land ownership in Hot Springs Canyon are federally managed lands by Los Padres National Forest as multi use designated it is important to realize that the USFS has many stakeholders with partnerships."Public lands provide significant environmental, economic, and social values to society across a range of classifications and tenures. Stakeholders representing multiple interests are presumed to hold different management preferences for these lands."What is a stakeholder on public lands? As a citizen you are a stakeholder on all public lands within the United States. Often stakeholding is in part based upon locality. You or the area of your interest are directly impacted by the determinations of the land manger that has juridiction upon the land. As an indidvual you can provide public comments with management plans whether in support or opposition. You can also volunteer directly to the agency serving as land manager as another form of stakeholding.

Organizations as stakeholder are much the same. The organizations mission or purpose directly or indirectly is positivily or negativley impacted by management decisions and plans. Often organizations will partner or formalize agreements in support of management plans to carry out or further mutual agreed upon objectives.

On federaly managed lands there is also an obligation to have consultations with federally recognized tribes. Not all indegenous groups are federally recognized, but all indigenous people can particpate as stakeholder.

Whether one considers theirself as stakeholder or not you must always obtain written permission before taking any action that alters the landscape or waterways. If you percieve an unmet need first contact Santa Barabara Ranger District. Let the District know that there is a need to be resolved and how might you volunteer to assist. Then ask what organizations are partnered and request contact information if necessary. Many of these organizations organize groups of volunteers and are eager to include you. Be proactive, if you see an unmet need seek out organizations and provide a proposal, if it has merit and they have capacity, they will contact the land manger and ask if it is a priority. If everything aligns then stewardship can be furthered and you shall be rewarded by restive sleep from working the day to make the world a better place.