Gaviota-Vandenberg Landscape Partnerships

Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve in Lompoc, CA

Project Overview:

Since 2023, our team has been supporting a diverse group of partners in an ongoing process aimed at establishing collaborative networks, increasing capacity, and developing a shared vision for landscape conservation in Santa Barbara County and the Gaviota Coast.

The project's focus has been on facilitating collaboration among local, state, and federal partners to identify opportunities for mutual support and advance shared conservation and resilience priorities across the Gaviota Coast, to secure a Sentinel Landscape designation for the region surrounding Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB).

Sentinel Landscape partnerships by design align military, ecological, and agricultural priorities in order to more effectively protect working lands, enhance wildfire and water resilience, and conserve habitat for vulnerable species. The collaborative effort is a powerful example of how cross-sector partnerships can strengthen both community and environmental resilience in one of California’s most iconic coastal landscapes.

Community Context:

The Gaviota Coast is a biologically rich area facing pressures from development, wildfire, and climate change. Its ecological importance and proximity to VSFB make it a vital focus for conservation efforts. The Sentinel Landscape framework aims to align federal, local, and nonprofit initiatives to preserve this unique region while supporting military operations.

Role of LegacyWorks:

Since 2023, LegacyWorks has been supporting the landscape partners, including conducting one-on-one interviews, coordinating site visits trips, and facilitating virtual and in-person planning workshops. In the spring of 2025, the partnership leadership team presented an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Federal Coordinating Committee (FCC) for Sentinel Landscapes. It successfully secured an invitation to submit a full proposal for the 2026 Sentinel Landscape designation cycle.

What are Sentinel Landscapes?

Sentinel landscapes are federally recognized partnerships dedicated to protecting the military mission by preserving natural and working lands critical to military installations.

By promoting compatible land use and investing in local partnerships, sentinel landscapes are helping to secure America’s defense capabilities while advancing conservation, agriculture, and economic resilience. Click here to learn more about our work in Sentinel Landscapes.

• Partners

  • Department of Defense (Vandenberg Space Force Base)

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (NRCS, Cachuma Resource Conservation District, Los Padres National Forest)

  • Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Ventura Office)

• Timeframe

  • Convening and Coalescing: Summer 2023 - Summer 2024

  • Developing Expression of Interest: Fall 2024 – Spring 2025

  • EOI Submitted: April 6, 2025

  • Invitation to a Full Proposal: July 2025
    Designation Review & Proposal

  • Development: Summer 2025 – Fall 2025

• Strategies in Action

  • Foster Connectedness and Deepen Trust

    →Partners engage in ongoing efforts to find value in the network and discover shared priorities and needs.

  • Catalyze collaborative action and investment towards systems change

    → Partners came together to define shared goals, develop a regional governance structure, and pursue a formal federal designation that would unlock long-term resources for coordinated action.

  • Facilitate public participation in planning and decision-making

    → More than 50 individuals from over 30 partner organizations engaged in a series of workshops to shape the vision and priorities for the Sentinel Landscape.

  • Build capacity through multiple pathways

    → LegacyWorks supported the leadership team by facilitating workshops, conducting outreach, and aligning stakeholders to develop a competitive Expression of Interest.
    

• Measures of Success

  • Invitation to Full Proposal

  • Submission of a strong Expression of Interest (EOI) for Sentinel Landscape designation

  • Development of shared goals and a governance structure among 30+ partner organizations

  • Increased visibility and alignment among key federal and regional decision-makers

  • Ongoing commitment from partners to collaborate beyond the current designation cycle

• Milestones & Progress

  • Conducted one-on-one interviews and outreach to partners, allies, and government officials

  • Organized a series of regional planning workshops and gatherings, culminating in an intensive 3-month planning process with 50+ participants

  • Defined mutual priorities for land conservation, wildfire resilience, and habitat protection

  • Drafted EOI to the Federal Coordinating Committee in April 2025

  • Established a preliminary governance structure and landscape boundary

  • Invitation to a full proposal received

Next Steps:

Awaiting feedback from the Federal Coordinating Committee (Spring/Summer 2025) and potential invitation for a full proposal development.

Inspiration:

“The most important outcome of this process has been the partnership’s growing commitment to collaboration, regardless of the result of the current designation cycle.”

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