Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Our weekend warriors are battling against invasive plants, tearing down relic barbed wire fencing, and picking up small pieces of trash that are harmful to young – and critically endangered – California condors. It’s our way of giving something back to the places we love, while getting our hands dirty and directly improving wildlife habitat and recreation areas in our local backcountry.
Volunteer stewardship is vital for ForestWatch and with more than 900 volunteers our strength in numbers produces big results. Our volunteers have hauled out nearly 20,000 pounds of trash from the forest, surveyed over 50 miles of streams for invasive plants like tamarisk, and removed more than 15 miles of old fencing from the Carrizo Plain National Monument. With the fences gone, pronghorn antelope and other wildlife are less vulnerable to predators, reclaiming the freedom to roam across this vast landscape.
Every trail, hillside, and canyon in our region tells a story of dedication through the hands of our volunteer community. From students to retirees, these environmental champions devote their weekends to healing our wild places. Their commitment goes beyond simple cleanup; it’s a hands-on investment in our wilderness future.
Types of Field Stewardship Projects
Fence Removal
Today, this fencing poses a huge barrier to pronghorn antelope migration and movement throughout the plains.
Marijuana Grow Site Cleanups
Illegal marijuana grow sites hidden deep within the Los Padres National Forest have devastating impacts on plants, wildlife, and the ecosystem as a whole.
Trash Removal
Throughout the Los Padres National Forest, there are unfortunately a number of areas that are abused and mistreated, either by a hiker that is simply too tired to carry his or her water bottle any further.
Biological Surveys
To establish and appraise the best possible management plans, wildlife officials need to know how many members of a certain species are present in an area.
Microtrash Removal
The term "microtrash" refers to small bits of trash such broken glass, bottle caps, bullet casings, and other smaller broken down pieces of trash, all of which pose a serious threat to condors.
Invasive Plant Removal
ForestWatch works to remove invasive plants from the ecosystem, so we can reopen ecological niches and help our region's native plants reestablish dominance, all the while creating better habitat for the animals that depend on native plants for their well-being.
Past Projects
Volunteer projects happen all over Los Padres National Forest, and we’re always working to expand our efforts. Below is a map of most of the volunteer projects we’ve put on since December, 2013. Locations are approximate to protect the exact locations of some sites.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
We also rely on volunteers behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. We take on volunteers to help us with office tasks that include fundraising, data entry, event preparation, and mailing parties. Additionally, our events could not happen without the help of volunteers and we always need help at events with check-ins, food service, bar tending, and preparation.
