interview

this is the interview i had with a park ranger at otey mesa park hi my name is Hunter Morris i am a junior at Point Loma high school and i am doing an expert project for my English class. the topic of my project is focusing on national forest and community park preservation. i have a few questions that i would really appreciate if you could answer them. 1. what does your job require you to do? what is your job title, and what are your responsibilities? Senior Park Ranger for the City of San Diego, Park & Recreation Department/Open Space Division, at Mission Trails Regional Park. We wear several different hats while on the job – Enforcement: we enforce park rules and regulation, municipal codes, and Fish & Wildlife laws. Most of the time we educate people about why it’s important to follow the park rules/regulations (keeping your dog on leash for example), but we can also write citations for various law violations. Education: we lead interpretive hikes for groups and individuals, and also train park volunteers on environmental education and leading interpretive hikes. The hikes cover a variety of topics including native plants and animals found in the park, historic areas of the park, habitat restoration projects, etc. Natural Resource Management: Mission Trails has several different types of native habitats, and a wide variety of native plants and animals that live in the park. We must balance the preservation of these habitats/plants/animals with the recreation component of the park. For example, we provide and maintain trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians in the park, but we must also protect sensitive areas of the park where people are not allowed to go. This ensures that the natural beauty of the park is maintained so that future generations of hikers, bikers, etc can enjoy and the natural wonders of the park. Park Maintenance: We must have a good understanding of trail maintenance, including various techniques for repairing damaged sections. We also install/repair fencing around the park to keep illegal off-roaders out the park, and visitors out of sensitive areas. 2. how does your job help to preserve the environment? We protect the natural resources of the park by limiting access to areas where sensitive plants or habitats exist. This is done by installing fencing to keep people out of sensitive areas, and signs that explain why a particular area is closed to the public. Enforcing park rules, regulations, and municipal codes helps to deter people from damaging the natural resources in the park (illegal off-roading for example). Our educational presentations helps to connect park visitors with the natural wonders of the park. Often times, park visitors feel more connected and are more willing to help preserve the environment when their knowledge of what can be found in the park like Mission Trails is enhanced. 3. How does your park involve the community in park preservation and other educational activities? We have a very active community around Mission Trails, and there are many volunteer positions that work with park staff to help maintain and protect the park. We train volunteers to lead interpretive (educational) hikes. Our all-volunteer Trail Guide program leads multiple interpretive hikes each week and throughout the year. There are volunteers that help patrol our trails, and communicate with us whenever they observe something that is, or may cause damage to the environment. We also have a great Visitor Center where people can learn about the park, and talk to a knowledgeable volunteer about a nice hike, or interesting plants or animals that can be seen in the park. 4. what else is needed and or missing in park preservation, what could you use to help preserve the parks more efficiently? Funding for more programs and park staff is always a major topic when it comes to what can be done more to help preserve the environment. Particualrly in a crowded place like San Diego County, where there are so many different types of user groups (hikers, bikers, equestrians, birders, geocachers, etc) all wanting to enjoy a park like Mission Trails, and often times in very different ways.