The Wildland Resources Center is a systemwide multicampus research unit. The Center is charged to relate not only to research but also to the extension and continuation of activities concerned with terrestrial natural resources. Leaders in the Agricultural Experiment Station are kept fully informed about all matters affecting the Center.

After several years of being a part of the Water and Wildland Centers, there will be a focus on establishing an independent mission and set of projects for the WRC. The goals of the WRC's research and extension activities include:

• Develop methods to sustain and restore wildland ecosystems and landscapes;
• Assist planners, mangers, and owners about information relating to the conservation of wildland ecosystems;
• Develop approaches to maintain economically viable wildlands;
• Reference statewide information about trends, condition and extent of wildlands;
• Maintain a statewide directory of expertise of UC academics working on wildland conservation and management;
• Assist in development of teams of UC academics to meet research and extension needs;
• Respond to inquiries on the importance of wildlands.

Click to see the bylaws.

Members
The Policy Board consists of twelve members from the University of California who have expertise in areas of Wildland Resources. Members are eligible to serve two terms that last three years each.

• Rick Church - UCSB - Professor, Geography - church@geog.ucsb.edu
• John Harte - UCB - Professor, Energy and Resources Group - jharte@socrates.berkeley.edu
• Karen Holl - UCSC - Professor Env. Studies - kholl@nats.ucsc.edu
• Hugo Loaiciga- UCSB - Professor, Geography - hugo@geog.ucsb.edu
• Glen MacDonald - UCLA - Professor, Geography - macdonal@geog.ucla.edu
• Al Muth - UCR - Director, Boyd Deep Canyon Research Center - deepcanyon@mindspring.com
• Elisak Rejmankova - UCD - Professor, Env. Science and Policy - erejmankova@ucdavis.edu
• Kim Rodrigues (chair) - UC DANR - Regional Director - karodrigues@ucdavis.edu
• Ken Tate - UCD - CE Specialist, Agronomy and Range Science - kwtate@ucdavis.edu
• Bill Tietje - UCB - Natural Resource CE Specialist - Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program - wdtietje@ucdavis.edu
• David Woodruff - UCSD - Professor, Biology - dwoodruf@ucsd.edu

Minutes
Minutes from past meetings are included here. Recent meeting minutes are in draft form and will be placed here when they are approved by the board.

Objectives:

1. Improve awareness of the University's programs in research and extension related to wildlands.
2. Enhance the capacities and image of the University's research and extension work related to wildlands.
3. Provide liaison among the University's academic staff and key people in state and federal agencies and other organizations concerned with wildland resources and problems.
4. Provide coordination among the University's research and extension activities related to wildlands.

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   Current Efforts:
   

• Providing information about the Center to scientists and specialists concerned about terrestrial renewable natural resources.
• Making administrators and the academic staff of the University aware of the social, economic, and environmental importance of California's wildlands.
• Augmenting financial support for the University's programs in research and extension related to wildlands.
• Informing investigators of availability of research funds in their areas of expertise.
• Building and maintaining directories to expertise and facilities related to wildland resources in California.
• Informing state and federal agencies, public utilities, and environmental groups concerned with wildlands and associated resources about the role and activities of the Center and capabilities of the University to solve their problems.
• Providing facts and information about government agencies concerned with wildlands to aid the academic staff in contacting agencies for support and assistance.
• Assisting in planning of research, de-velopment, and extension programs to solve wildland problems.
• Building an infrastructure to support watershed management research and extension.

Director - Rick Standiford
Academic Coordinator - Larry Ruth
Adminstrative Manager - Joni Rippee

The WRC has a key role in providing infrastructure support to the California Biodiversity Council. The Council is the key 'group of public agencies and NGOs working in natural resource conservation and management. It plays a key role in identifying priority issues, and finding ways to address these through technical assistance, policies, research and education. The WRC provides staff support to the Council, assists in organizing meetings, produces a bi-annual newsletter, and raises funding support for Council projects.

The Natural Resource Coordinating Conference (NRCC) is the mechanism within DANR to communicate between various workgroups, special projects, Centers, and projects dealing with a variety of natural resource issues. The NRCC has played this role for the past ten years. It has a key role in ensuring communication between DANR academics, and seeking collaboration where appropriation. The WRC will provide the administrative structure to support the NRCC activities. A separate budget request for the NRCC has been submitted through the workgroup process for $6000 to continue this activity in the upcoming year.

2003 NRCC: UC-ANR's Natural Resource Research Stations - Their Role in Research, Teaching and Extension Programs
May 28-30, The Beach Resort, Monterey

2002 NRCC: Restoration Ecology and Conservation Biology - DANR's Current and Emerging Programs
April 1-4, Red Lion Inn, Sacramento

The WRC has a twelve person Policy Board of academics from throughout UC. This Board will play a key role in the upcoming year in helping the WRC staff develop its mission, chart a future course of activities, find support for these activities, and identifying collaborators with Center activities.

One of the key components of the success of several of the DANR Special Programs has been a competitive grants research program. A competitive grants program allows UC academics to focus their efforts on priority issues, builds teams that cut across campus and discipline lines, and provides financial support for research and extension activities. The Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program, Integrated Pest Management Program, and Renewable Resource Extension Act Program are examples where widespread support within UC and its associated clientele were developed through its competitive grants. During this year, effort will be made to identify opportunities for developing a WRC competitive grants program. Hatch Funds, foundation support, and agency funds will be investigated as sources of funding. The Policy Board will assist in this activity.

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