@forestwatch.org
Protecting wild places and wildlife throughout California's central coast region, including Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument. Learn more about our work at forestwatch.org
The BLM is about to hand over nearly 400,000 acres across the Central Coast and Southern California to oil drilling and fracking—near parks, schools, and communities.
📣 Submit a public comment before March 13.
👉 forestwatch.org/stop-oil
The BLM is about to hand over nearly 400,000 acres across the Central Coast and Southern California to oil drilling and fracking—near parks, schools, and communities.
📣 Submit a public comment before March 13.
👉 forestwatch.org/stop-oil
134 years ago, the foundation for protecting Los Padres began. 🌲In 1898, President McKinley established the Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake Forest Reserve—later becoming Los Padres National Forest.
👉 forestwatch.org/learn-explore/history
📷: Bryant Baker
Thank you, Congresswoman Julia Brownley for earning a 100% on the 2025 LCV – League of Conservation Voters 🌎 National Environmental Scorecard. She was also the only rep whose district includes Los Padres National Forest to vote NO on FOFA. Grateful for her leadership protecting our public lands. 🌿
Join us for an education + advocacy hike to learn what’s at stake as a federal proposal could open up 850,000 acres of Central California to oil and gas drilling and fracking—including lands near schools, parks, and Ventura’s beloved Harmon Canyon.
RSVP: https://ow.ly/5qAs50Ynlhk
Public input helps protect wildlife, watersheds, and our national forests but it’s at risk of being cut short. A new rule could limit review of major projects to just 10 days.
📣 Speak up before March 9: https://ow.ly/b19w50YmcpC
After being required—twice—to review fracking impacts, the BLM changed nothing, affecting 40,000 acres of Health Protection Zones near homes and schools. 📣 Speak up by March 13: forestwatch.org/stop-oil
Conservation is shaped by many voices—though not all have been equally heard. This Black History Month, we’re highlighting books exploring culture, community, and connection to wild places. 🎒 Pack inspiration for your next adventure: store.forestwatch.org/collections/black-history-month
Temps along the Central Coast are pushing into the mid-70s this week, but just last week snow dusted mountaintops from Pine Mountain to the Temblor Range—it didn't hang around for long, but long enough to catch some beautiful views.
📷: Chuck Graham
Logs are being hauled out of Los Padres National Forest as part of the Tecuya Ridge Project. Officials previously said logs would stay onsite, but they’re now being transported away. We’ve requested records and will share updates. 🌲 Learn more: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/8c31...
Celebrate National Drink Wine Day all year with our Wine for Wilderness Passport! 🍷 Explore 24 sustainably minded Central Coast wineries and scenic trails, enjoy a complimentary glass at each stop, and support local wild lands. Valid all of 2026.
👉🏽 forestwatch.org/passport
Many of you are curious about ring-tailed cats—and we get it. Despite the name, this nocturnal, fox-sized member of the raccoon family is native to Los Padres, an expert climber, and incredibly elusive.
forestwatch.org/learn-explore/wildlife-plants/ring-tailed-cat/ 📷 Craig Benkman
The CA Fish and Game Commission has officially designated Central Coast mountain lions as threatened, granting them critical protections under state law!
Thank you to everyone who spoke up—and to the Fish & Game Commission for following sound science that confirmed they are at serious risk.
Curious about condors? Join this free public lecture led by longtime condor advocate and cartographer Bryant Baker whose work traces condor movements across Los Padres National Forest.
Light refreshments and Q&A to follow. Recording available afterward.
👉 Register: https://ow.ly/tPVw50Y9wgs
Wildfire has always shaped our landscape—learn how we can live with it. 🔥 Join us Thu, Feb 19 at 6 PM in Santa Paula for a FREE screening of Elemental + discussion with local wildfire experts.
Get Tickets 👉 forestwatch.org/event/elemental-reimagine-wildfire-film-screening/
Forest Academy 2026 kicks off March 7 with a Native Plant Walk in Ojai. Walk Shelf Road, explore Chumash history and Awhai, and learn to identify native plants. Part 1 of our four-part Flora & Fauna series. 🌿 forestwatch.org/event/native-plant-walk
Your wildlife and roadkill sightings can help guide conservation and land-use planning efforts in our region!
Download the free, mobile survey and help collect critical data on wildlife movement and dangerous road crossings.
👉 Learn more: forestwatch.org/R2R
Your wildlife and roadkill sightings can help guide conservation and land-use planning efforts in our region!
Download the free, mobile survey and help collect critical data on wildlife movement and dangerous road crossings.
👉 Learn more: forestwatch.org/R2R
Wetlands are a source of life, and they deserve to be celebrated and protected! #WorldWetlandsDay
We advocate for the removal of defunct dams that block fish passage and harm ecosystems, strengthen dam license protections, and monitor dam operations to reduce ongoing impacts to our shared water resources. #WorldWetlandsDay
That's why part of our work at ForestWatch is defending these riparian habitats and aquatic systems. #WorldWetlandsDay
These wetlands also sustain rivers that provide drinking water to communities like Santa Barbara, Ventura, Ojai, Arroyo Grande, Carmel, and Monterey. Protecting them isn't optional. It's essential #WorldWetlandsDay
There's a lot to love about the wetlands in Los Padres. In an otherwise dry landscape, wetlands are where life concentrates. #WorldWetlandsDay
Clean water doesn't start at the tap—it starts in wetlands, rivers, creeks, and vernal pools that shape our watersheds. #WorldWetlandsDay
Now is your chance to speak up and demand that public lands, coastal recreation areas, and drinking water sources are protected, NOT opened to drilling and fracking.
Share a verbal public comment at the virtual public hearing on Feb 3 at 5 PM. Registration is required.
👉 forestwatch.org/stop-oil
Our work is grounded in the understanding that people, communities, and the natural world are deeply connected. In times of fear and uncertainty, we stand for democracy, equity, and accountability—because caring for our environment and for one another are inseparable.
We now have a clear opportunity to act.
On February 12, the California Fish and Game Commission will consider whether to grant endangered species protections. Public comments matter—and it only takes a minute.
👉 Comment today and urge science-based protections: forestwatch.org/campaign/pro...
After years of research, the science is clear—mountain lions are in trouble.
SoCal and Central Coast populations are dangerously isolated and facing serious long-term threats from roads, development, wildfire, and poisons.
👉 Act now: forestwatch.org/campaign/pro...
To protect the Los Padres, we need to understand its history. 🌲 Published in 1985, Historical Overview of the Los Padres National Forest is the only comprehensive history of the southern Los Padres—and now, it’s online in full. 👉 forestwatch.org/learn-explore/history
We’re excited to launch Forest Academy, a four-part, field-based learning series with local experts across Los Padres. 🌿 Explore Flora & Fauna—starting March 7 in Ojai with Native Plants, then birds (May), tracking (July), and bats (October).
👉 forestwatch.org/event/forest-academy-event-series
