Point Reyes Seashore is a national treasure in our own backyard. Every year more than 2 million people come to the Seashore to be in nature, hoping to glimpse rare wildlife like the migrating whales and majestic tule elk. The Seashore is a refuge for people, as it is for 200 rare, threatened and endangered species. People love the National Seashore, but few know of the threats to this fragile coastal ecosystem from the 6,000 cattle that graze 24/7 on these public lands.
As a local resident, I became interested in learning how a handful of ranchers manage to remain on leased lands, subsidized by our tax dollars on this seashore—the ONLY National Seashore on the West Coast of the U.S.? And why does the National Park Service permit these privately owned commercial dairies and beef operations to continue despite the damage to the land, water, wildlife and our climate?
I’ve been exploring the threats facing our backyard paradise and encourage anyone who loves this place to learn more. Point Reyes: A Wilderness in Peril is a series exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and the decades-long battle to reclaim and restore the park for the public and future generations. Airing on MarinTV Channel 26 or on cmcm.tv. I encourage anyone who cares about this place to take an interest in protecting it.
Diane E Gentile, Petaluma
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