Adaptive land protection and management strategies are fundamental to accomplishing the stated species and
habitat conservation goals of federal Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and California Natural Community
Conservation Plan (NCCP) efforts. In San Diego County, the current NCCP reserve system includes more
than 200,000 acres of protected lands, which are monitored and managed by multiple jurisdictions. The
Wildlife Agencies (FWS and DFW, collectively), environmental groups, and reserve managers would like an
improved understanding of how various threats and stressors may be affecting reserve performance for the
benefit of 103 plant and animal species. The intent of this applied research project was to complement the
existing species and habitat monitoring efforts in San Diego County by developing a program to assess the
possible effects of human recreation on wildlife populations. Specific objectives were to: (1) Develop
recommendations for a research for studying the effects of recreation on wildlife species; and (2) Test methods
for monitoring recreation and complete a pilot field study.
San Diego Management & Monitoring Program