The National Forests that ring Southern California provide great beauty, invaluable natural resources and are loved by the 20 million people that call them home. From the 3.5 million acres of habitat to the miles of open space for hiking, bicycling, and picnicking, to the gallons water supply for millions of residents, the ecosystem benefits from these forests are priceless.
Unfortunately, many from Southern California’s underserved communities do not have access to these resources and many visitors who do find their way to these Forests do not understand the impacts they may have on the landscape.
The economic disparity in Los Angeles County where more than 40 percent of residents live in disadvantaged community census tracts and 30 percent of minority 18-24-year-olds live below the poverty line means that access and knowledge of the benefits of this public land are not always shared.
