Internships in Coastal Biodiversity Planning for the Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota Rural Plan and Climate Action Strategy

In November 2009, the Ocean and Coastal Policy Center initiated a second project in support of Santa Barbara County's Climate Action Strategy and the Gaviota Coast Rural Planning Process. This project will be developed further during the next year.

With funding from UC Santa Barbara's Associated Students Coastal Fund, this project provides resources for students to gain professional experience in coastal policymaking in two of the most important planning efforts underway in Santa Barbara County – the Gaviota Coast Rural Planning Process and the Santa Barbara County Climate Action Strategy. Interns at the Ocean and Coastal Policy Center would gain the necessary tools in coastal planning so that they can contribute meaningful input into these planning processes. To support their participation in the planning processes, students would complete a vulnerability analysis and carry out an information sharing campaign that supports biodiversity conservation policy for the Gaviota coastal area.