Summer 2013 "Forestland Steward" Focuses on California Chaparral

"It’s one of the iconic landscapes of California, yet chaparral lacks respect. Dismissed as “brush”or “weedy,” these important native shrublands are under siege by some very serious threats: development, fire, nonnative plant invaders, and a changing climate.

Chaparral communities are very different from forests in ecosystem function. For that reason, management techniques that are appropriate for forests may not be applicable here. Because of the importance of shrublands in California and the significant threats affecting them, it is time to take a closer look at these misunderstood communities and how to best manage them.

Fire is extremely important to shrublands. These communities are composed of fire-prone species that are adapted to survive burning, and fire plays a major role in maintaining biodiversity."

Learn more about the importance of chaparral in California's fire regime in the summer 2013 edition of Forestland Steward.