The Importance of Restoring Degraded Lands in Los Angeles County

What is the percentage of land area in Los Angeles County dedicated to regional recreation and conservation? Which areas of L.A. county should be prioritized for environmental conservation and restoration? What is the acreage of parkland in the rural portions of the county? How many miles of regional trails are there and where are they located? 

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors just approved a study that answers these questions and more. Called the 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+), this report complements and offers information not previously included in the 2016 Los Angeles Countywide Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment (PNA). Specifically, PNA+ contains data and analyses in support of expanding land conservation and restoration, transit to parks, and other strategies to meet regional and rural recreation needs, especially in the most vulnerable communities.

The PNA+ is L.A. County's 30x30 strategy which aligns with state and federal goals to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by the year 2030 to fight climate change and advance biodiversity and conservation. PNA+ addresses both environmental conservation and restoration.  It identifies priority areas for environmental conservation which are areas that offer the most environmental benefits as measured by species diversity, significant habitat, habitat connectivity, proximity to a waterbody, and habitat type. Examples of these areas include portions of the Antelope Valley, Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor, San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, and Santa Clarita Valley which are not currently owned and managed by public agencies and conservancies.

The study also calls out priority areas for environmental restoration. These are areas that have the most environmental burdens with respect to groundwater threat, hazardous waste, poor air and water quality, and pollution burden. Examples include oil fields (such as the Inglewood Oil Field in Baldwin Hills), brownfields, landfills (such as the Puente Hills Landfill), and other degraded lands which may be converted to parks and open space in the future. The restoration of degraded lands is of great importance and a matter of environmental justice in Los Angeles County where numerous underserved communities are plagued with environmental burdens.

Based on its key findings, PNA+ offers various recommendations and next steps which are explained in detail in the report and organized by the following categories: funding priorities; park, trail, and open space provision; collaboration and coordination; access and information; community engagement; and capacity building.