The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has been awarded the 2025 Excellence in Volunteerism Innovation Award for its Woolsey Fire Recovery Camera Project. This initiative, which was launched in response to the 2018 Woolsey Fire, is driven by volunteers and led by park scientists and educators. The project was designed to monitor the recovery of wildlife populations within the park following the devastating fire.
Over 4,300 volunteers have been trained to use wildlife cameras as part of the project, and they have analyzed more than one million images. This has allowed the park to document the recovery of various mammal species, including both common and rare species. The data gathered through this project is contributing to long-term ecological monitoring efforts.
Now in its sixth year, the Woolsey Fire Recovery Camera Project continues to engage the public and highlight the importance of community science in post-fire wildlife research. The project also hosts educational events and forms partnerships to further involve the community in its efforts. The award recognizes the significant contributions of the volunteers and the innovative approach to wildlife recovery monitoring.