Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership
The BRBNA Conservation Partnership was founded in 1997 to provide a forum
for public and private land managers within the BRBNA to meet and discuss their
activities. Early partners included the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG),
U.C. Davis Natural Reserve System, the Land Trust of Napa County, the Gamble
Ranch, and Homestake Mining Company, which facilitated the early meetings.
The group has since grown to over 100 partners, attracting conservation-minded
landowners and other individuals and organizations with the common goal of
ensuring the conservation of the open and wild character of the BRBNA (see
Appendix A for a list of and contact information for major BRBNA partners).
The Partnership's mission is to promote the conservation and enhancement of the BRBNA by encouraging the informed management of its wild, agricultural, recreational, archeological and historical resources. As a voluntary and inclusive organization, the Partnership facilitates coordination and collaboration among its public, private and nonprofit partners, provides research, information, and education services to the partners, and conducts outreach to the public.
Five principles guide the activities and decisions of the Partnership. Activities that do not conform to these principles are not undertaken by the Partnership.
Preserve, protect and enhance natural and cultural resource values of the BRBNA including its lands, wildlife, plants, creeks and bodies of water.
Support conservation-based land-use activities and sustainable economic development in the BRBNA and its gateway communities.
Respect the rights of private landowners.
Encourage resource-compatible, non-growth inducing public recreation facilities on public lands.
Consider all positions on an issue but only support activities when the Partnership has reached consensus.
In 2003, the Partnership completed its first strategic plan and, as a part of the planning process, developed an overall conservation vision and a set of conservation and stewardship goals for the BRBNA. Over the subsequent year, each of the Partnership's subcommittees developed a vision for their area of focus along with working objectives(Appendix B). In addition, the Partnership has tracked the accomplishments of the Partners with regard to their work in the BRBNA in areas such as research, land conservation, stewardship, and recreational development (Appendix C).
In 2002, the Partnership received the state's most prestigious environmental honor Ð the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award. Only fourteen such awards are given statewide each year. One of the partners, Napa Free Range Beef, has also received the Senate's Green Entrepreneur Award for two years running.