Audubon California's Dan Taylor this afternoon issued the following statement regarding today's appointment of a new director for California State Parks:

We hope that Maj. Gen. Anthony L. Jackson will bring stability, leadership and discipline to a state agency of vital importance not only to California birds and wildlife, but to a public that depends on parks for quality experiences in nature. We welcome him to the shared challenge of protecting California’s best natural places, ones that touch the lives of millions of Californians each year. Audubon California and local Audubon chapters have enjoyed fruitful partnerships with California State Parks, and we look forward to working with our new director.