Our scenic wonders range from the Pacific Ocean at Big Sur, to the Sierra Nevada to Death Valley. The population and economic growth of the 20th century altered the landscape and the state's natural resources in fundamental ways. Yet, there are reasons to believe that the pressures will grow and intensify. Indeed, the significant changes that occurred in the 20th century may pale beside those that could be in store for the next. The challenge of managing California's natural resources in the face of such change is daunting, but it is imperative that we meet the challenge since natural resources will be more critical than ever in determining our economic welfare and whether California remains a pleasant and hospitable place to live.
Several themes emerge.
First, California's resource base will continue to undergo intensifying pressures as our population and economy grow. Unless effectively managed, population and economic growth will lead to significant declines in the quality of our air and water resources and will threaten the productivity of California's lands. Once vast, California's unparalleled old-growth forests have been whittled down to several hundred thousand acres. Second, the centuries-long trend of environmental deterioration must be reversed if serious and costly consequences are to be averted. Finally, the institutions which Californians have relied upon to manage their natural resources are not well or appropriately constituted to address many of the challenges.