As the monument celebrates a decade of federal recognition, the Biden administration hopes to pair its planned expansion with stronger funding and stewardship — addressing who benefits from access to nature in the Los Angeles region.

Stephanie Pincetl, a professor at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and founding director of the California Center for Sustainable Communities, believes that real change starts closer to home. She argues that Los Angeles County must create more public open space where people live, reducing the need for long drives to the mountains. “That way, city dwellers need not drive to the mountains in such high numbers in order to enjoy nature,” she said.

Pincetl also supports visitor management strategies, such as the daily permitting systems used at Yosemite and other popular parks, to help balance access and conservation.

For her, the issue extends beyond recreation — it’s about respect. “These spaces have historic cultural value and meaning for tribal people, and we’re asking them to share,” she said. “How do we graciously acknowledge their generosity in sharing this land with us by taking good care of it ourselves?”