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Projects
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Mendocino County Nature Tourism Coalition
Nature and Wildlife Site Inventory and Evaluation Project Summary
1. Project Goal & Description
This project, which can be used by the general public as well as numerous businesses, organizations, and government entities, will create an inventory of nature and wildlife sites, evaluating their public accessibility as well as sustainability. It targets the first and second steps of a ten step in depth planning process for developing a comprehensive Environmental Tourism plan for Mendocino County. The next step is to create a regional strategy for Environmental Tourism. By working through the Coalition the groups responsible for the maintenance and promotion of these resources are actively involved in the planning process and will assume ownership for maintaining relevant data and using it appropriately. The resulting inventory and evaluation will serve as a valuable tool for Mendocino County residents, the tourism industry, county-wide economic development initiatives and numerous, cultural, historical, environmental and wildlife oriented groups. Specifically the study will identify and inventory environmental resources, identify locations and strategies for resources protection, determine the area's physical limitations for handling tourists and wildlife, and assess potential environmental education opportunities. This report will serve as a valuable tool for tourism planning, land use management and economic development opportunities. If a site is deemed currently suitable for public access it will be published online so the general pubic and potential visitors can easily access the information. For sites where additional planning and management are necessary, outreach meetings with local businesses and organizations about how to use the resulting information will augment the onsite listing and the final report.
2. Benefits to Mendocino County Residents
All Mendocino County residents will benefit from this project. The focus of this project is to produce an inventory and evaluation that will lead to the preservation of Mendocino County's natural assets while improving our recreational access. The inventory of natural and wildlife assets and associated cultural and heritage characteristics will be a resource to the general public, our schools, and our business community. In addition it will serve as a tool that can be accessed for economic development and effective environmental and cultural/heritage tourism planning as well as sustainable land use management.
3. Collaboration
As a collaborate group we will be asking each associate to provide relevant data and share the final report with his/her respective organization. As we collect relevant data we'll be working with groups as diverse as the Point Cabrillo Light Station, Mendocino County Museum, Gualala Arts Center, Mendocino County Farm Bureau and the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. On a regional and state level members of the NTC are actively involved in the new North Coast Tourism Council which is replacing the Redwood Empire Association, the California Cultural and Heritage Tourism Council and the California Travel and Tourism Council's Rural Tourism Marketing group.
4. Project Timeline
Calendar: July 07 - July 08
1st Quarter - July - September 07
Develop Data collection form and Survey tool
. Develop rating scale and corresponding Indexes
Identify related source documents
2nd Quarter - October - December 07
Data mine existing source documents
Survey other sites
3rd Quarter - January -March 08
Compile data
Complete Carrying Capacity Assessment
4th Quarter - April - June 08
Design Website section
Prepare final report/Resource Guide
July 08
Present findings to Coalition members and other interested groups
Take website section live
5. Measures of Success
The Mendocino County Nature Tourism Coalition will know the inventory and resulting resource guide and related websites are providing value if they:
¦ are used for the continuation of the Environmental Tourism Planning process,
¦ serve as a tool in prioritizing land use planning and management as well as other on-going planning purposes,
¦ serve as a reference for funding decisions,
¦ provide a basis for developing business opportunities
¦ are accessed by Mendocino County residents and potential visitors to Mendocino County.
6. Nature Tourism Coalition (NTC) Steering Committee
· James Bernard - Mendocino Land Trust & Mendocino County Promotional Alliance (MCPA)
· Carolyne Cathey - Mendocino Area Parks Association (MAPA)
· Johanna Jensen - former Fort Bragg Promotion Committee rep, business owner
· Lynelle Johnson - Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
· Stuart Marcus - MCPA, Mendocino County Lodging Association (MCLA), lodging owner
· Charlene McAllister - Mendocino Coast Audubon Society
· Rachel Murray - Fort Bragg Promotion Committee & West Company
· Hawk Rosales - InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council
· Carol Smith - Strategic consultant, Environmental Activist, local land owner
· Scott Schneider - North Coast Regional Tourism Council, MCLA & MCPA
· Penny Greenwood - NTC Coordinator
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