But for the most part, people want and need to walk and ride in nature, and nature can benefit from being dedicated to that use, both directly and indirectly. In Sonoma County lately, we have been hearing that we shouldn't oppose rampant vineyard expansion because the only alternative is subdivisions. This is not true. For many of the wildland ridges and hillsides in question, the third and vastly preferable option is preservation as natural parkland, on a grand scale. Several other area counties are finding a way to achieve this, and we can too.
Nature also benefits indirectly by nurturing a constituency of stewards.
Both locally and globally, the natural world is far too imperiled to survive by merely walling off its remaining vestiges. Nature's only chance, and ours, lies in motivating and inspiring environmental stewards and activists in massive numbers. We can, and must, do our part locally by enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to access and care for our natural commons. Prime land for outdoor recreation will only become scarcer and more expensive in the future. Sonoma County will never have a better opportunity to leave a dramatic, lasting legacy to benefit the public, economic, and environmental health of all future generations.