How Wild: The State of California’s Public Lands

KALW’s How Wild podcast hosts a special live edition about the state of California public lands. Californians love hiking and camping, but national parks and other federal public lands are facing some of the biggest staff and budget cuts in their history. From the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Yosemite, the current administration is slashing budgets and downsizing staff. Plus, new policies restrict how information can be communicated at national parks. Join Jon Jarvis, the former director of the National Park Service, in conversation with journalist Marissa Ortega-Welch, host of KALW’s NPR-distributed podcast How Wild, for a timely discussion about the past and future of California’s public lands.

We’ll discuss:

• The scope and impact of federal cuts to California public lands
• What these changes mean for access, conservation, and the national park’s role in telling history
• How communities are organizing to defend the places they love
• Stories from Director Jarvis’s long career in the national parks and Marissa’s reporting from trails across the West

Marissa Ortega-Welch is the creator and host of How Wild, a KALW/NPR podcast about wilderness, how it’s changing, and what that says about us as humans. A former field biologist and award-winning reporter, Marissa brings a grounded, human-centered approach to stories of the natural world—often highlighting local voices from the frontlines of conservation.

Marissa Ortega-Welch is the creator and host of How Wild, a KALW/NPR podcast about wilderness, how it’s changing, and what that says about us as humans. A former field biologist and award-winning reporter, Marissa brings a grounded, human-centered approach to stories of the natural world—often highlighting local voices from the frontlines of conservation.

Jon Jarvis served for 40 years with the National Park Service (NPS) as ranger, biologist and superintendent in national parks across the country. He was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate as the 18 th Director of the NPS, serving from 2009 to 2017. During his tenure, he led the National Park Service and its 400 parks through its Centennial, added 22 new parks, achieved its largest budget in history, launched a climate change strategy for the National Park System and helped the National Park Foundation raise over $400 million in philanthropic support. Retiring from the NPS in 2017, he became the Inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity at the University of California, Berkeley. He provides advice and training to national park professionals around the world. He has co-authored two books published by the University of Chicago Press: The Future of Conservation in America: A Chart for Rough Water, and National Parks Forever: Fifty Years of Fighting and a Case for Independence. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and was granted an honorary PhD by the College for his public service.

About HOW WILD

How Wild hits trails around the country, exploring the meaning of wilderness. A century ago, the U.S. set aside the first official wilderness. You’ll hear stories from rangers, scientists, hikers, environmentalists, and Tribal leaders as they grapple with the realities of wilderness on a changing planet, and whether the concept of “wilderness” has ever really existed. Listen to the series here.

There is a $10 – $20 sliding scale suggested donation for this event. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

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220 Montgomery St., San Francisco, 2 blocks from BART/MUNI

Reception doors open at 6:00

️ Program begins at 7:00

🆓 The event is free with an RSVP — and you are welcome to donate what you want

Please note:

• The event space is just to the left of the main entrance to the Mills Building at 220 Montgomery Street
• We recommend taking BART/MUNI, exiting at Montgomery, and walking two blocks north
• Ride-shares can drop off and pick up directly in front of the venue
• If you drive, there are several garages within two blocks of the event location; free street parking is available across from the venue at 7:00 pm