The loss of oak woodlands to native conifer encroachment is a major conservation concern in California, resulting in associated losses of wildlife habitat, traditional uses, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services. These concerns – compounded by development pressures, evolving understanding of fire’s role in California landscapes, and health threats like sudden oak death – have drawn increasing attention in recent years, and oak woodland conservation and restoration efforts have gained momentum.
Credit Yana Valachovic
Guests include Mark Moore, local landowner; Greg Gray, biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service; and Lenya Quinn-Davidson, University of California fire advisor.
Resources:
- Restoring California’s black oaks
- General summary of California’s oak woodlands
- Summary of the main threat to north coast oak survival
- US Fish and Wildlife Service program to help in oak conservation
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program to help in oak conservation
- Northern California Prescribed Fire Council
Credit Yana Valachovic
