The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) includes members in nine coastal California counties encompassing four sub-regions (from south to north): Morro Bay, Monterey Bay, East San Francisco Bay, and Bodega Bay. It was formed in 2002 by a group of ranchers, public rangeland managers, agency personnel, conservationists, and scientists to develop consensus on rangeland health and sustainability. It recognizes that both science and practical knowledge are necessary to discover a common definition of rangeland health, means to measure it, and practices appropriate to different circumstances. The purposes of the CCRC are to support stewardship of both public and private rangelands by focusing attention on environmental benefits, providing technical assistance to monitor sustainability and health, and recognition of participants who are committed to these common goals.

The California Rangeland Conservation Coalition (CRCC) is a partnership between about 85 environmental, agriculture, and government agencies and organizations (as of May 2008). The Coalition began in 2004 when the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Cattlemen's Association (CCA) recognized a growing common interest in preserving and protecting private rangelands as essential to wildlife and the continued viability of California's ranching industry. The CRCC works collaboratively to protect and enhance the grassland and oak woodland landscape that encircles California's Central Valley, including the Sierra Nevada foothills and the interior Coast Ranges. The USFWS, CCA, and Defenders of Wildlife have jointly funded two staff positions. Eight committees promote its agenda of stewardship demonstrations and awards, internal communications and outreach, a legislative strategy, mapping of focus regions, agency and permit coordination, identification of research gaps and facilitation of priority research, and funding for related wildlife and rangeland projects. CNPS is a member, and is represented on the Steering Committee by Carol Witham.

Dr. Ford specializes in management of conservation lands, particularly about grazing management planning, monitoring, and adaptive management for habitat of special-status species and natural communities, and controlling fire hazards and pest plants. He earned his Ph.D. in Wildland Resource Science (Vegetation Ecology) from UC Berkeley in 1991, an M.S. in Range Management from UC Berkeley in 1986, and a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz in 1978. He is licensed as a Certified Rangeland Manager (California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection), and certified as a Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America), and Certified Professional in Rangeland Management and Range Management Consultant (Society for Range Management). Prior to developing his consulting practice, he was a Science Advisor to the U.S. Agency for International Development (AAAS Science and Diplomacy Fellow 1991-94) and Manager of the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve, University of California Natural Reserve System (1978-84). Dr. Ford holds the title of Research Associate at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Department of Environmental Studies. He co-authored the chapter on Northern Coastal Scrub and Coastal Prairie in the 3d Edition of Terrestrial Vegetation of California with Dr. Grey Hayes.