Abstract

Landscape conservation is essential to maintain ecological integrity, ecosystem processes, and persistent populations of native plant and animal species. However, across the broad category of conserved lands, the degree of protection and public access varies. While opportunities to experience nature and recreate are critical for quality of life, conservation buy-in, and public support, the effects of these activities on conserved lands must be managed appropriately to constrain the ecological impacts of recreation. To assess the potential for conflict between human uses and conservation goals and identify refugia from impacts of recreation, we evaluated the access status and location of recreational facilities (e.g., trails, campgrounds, trailheads) on conserved lands adjacent to two major metropolitan areas in California. We then analyzed the spatial overlap among areas of human activity and high biodiversity, endemism, and landscape connectivity, creating an index based on exposure (i.e., recreational impacts) and vulnerability (i.e., conservation importance). Using this index, we identified regions of likely conflict between conservation goals and public access where management efforts are most needed.We also mapped areas of high conservation importance where human impacts were likely minimal that could be maintained as areas of refuge from recreational activities. By framing the management of recreation in the context of refugia, our assessment lends itself to integrating considerations for other domains of refugia into planning and management practices for a more holistic approach to addressing threats and stressors on conserved lands.