Point Reyes National Seashore

About the Park

Point Reyes National Seashore is located approximately 30 miles (50 km) north of San Francisco along the coast of California.  From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches through its open grasslands to its brushy hillsides and forested ridges, visitors can discover over 1000 species of plants and animals.  This rich biological diversity is represented in habitats as various as rocky shore intertidal zones, vast open ocean, peaceful estuaries, windblown Douglas fir and Bishop pine forests, coastal dunes, and sandy beaches.  While the biodiversity is securely protected from the development pressures of a booming Bay area, Point Reyes’ boundaries do not provide protection from global warming. Rising sea levels will likely dramatically change this coastal park’s environment.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) predicts that rising seas could erode beaches and coastlines, submerge wetlands and swallow up Native American cultural artifacts at Point Reyes. Rising temperatures may make this area uninhabitable for many species of plants and animals that currently live here.

Emissions Profile

In 2005, Point Reyes National Seashore's GHG emissions totaled 7,663 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE).  The largest sourced of Point Reyes National Seashore’s emissions is livestock management, shown in the graph below in “Other”, totaling 5968 MTCE.  The second highest contributor to Point Reyes’ GHG emissions is Transportation (1452 MTCE).

The graph below, taken from our Action Plan, shows our baseline emissions in 2005 broken down into sectors.

Goal

Point Reyes National Seashore has committed to lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15% below 2005 levels by 2012 through implementing emission mitigation actions.

Example Ponit Reyes National Lakeshore Planned Actions

Planned actions fall under 3 strategies.  These strategies and specific examples of actions include:

1) Reduce Emissions from Park Facilities and Operations by identifying and implementing emission mitigation actions.

• Produce renewable electricity or purchase electricity from a renewable energy provider.
• Install energy efficient light fixtures
• Install master switches on computer equipment to facilitate shutdown and eliminate electrical leakage
• Initiate action to reduce energy drain from computer equipment transformers
• Install low-flow toilets in high use facilities

2) Increase Climate Change Education and Outreach

• Incorporate Global Climate Change messages in all talks, presentations and publications.
• Expand Climate Friendly Parks and Global Climate Change on the Park’s web page.
• Enhance Sustainability and Global Climate Change information of the Park’s intranet.
• Continue using recycled papers (greater than 30% post-consumer) for all publications printed by the Seashore
• Design and print out specific handouts/brochures on issues related to climate change (e.g. use of photo voltaic systems, green vehicles, etc.)

3) Perform subsequent emission inventories to evaluate progress, develop additional emission mitigation actions to facilitate efforts, and inform the park and public of goals and successes.

Point Reyes Climate Friendly Parks Action Plan will be available soon.