This is part of the 2008 University of California Cooperative Extension “Working Among the Oaks” workshop series

Sustainable Ranch Management - Spanish Dehesa and California Oak Rangeland

September 26, 2008
8 am – 2 pm
Veterans Memorial Building
San Luis Obispo, California

Supported by a grant from California’s Oak Woodland Conservation Program

$10 to participate (morning refreshments and lunch provided). Add $5 late fee if not received 3 days before the workshop.

http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp/

Focus & Goal:

Learn more about the economic, ecological, and social aspects of ranching sustainability by: 1) examining the sustainable Spanish agro-silvo-pastoral dehesa system for applicability to the management of California’s oak rangelands, 2) self-assessing your ranching operation with sustainability in mind, and 3) discussing the benefits and management of native grasses.

Who Should Attend:

This workshop will be of interest to ranchers, farmers, other private land managers, conservation professionals, students, and the general public.

Background:

This is one of a series of workshops and field days—Working Among the Oaks—on agricultural stewardship and oak woodland conservation. Working Among the Oaks provides a forum for teaching and learning among the public and agricultural community, with an emphasis on practical expertise. The ultimate goal of the workshop series is to foster sustainable management of California’s oak woodlands, which occur mostly on agriculturally zoned land.

Planned topics:

    • History and management of the Spanish dehesa, a Mediterranean oak rangeland system that has been managed for more than 800 years
    • Economics and ecosystem services of multiple-use oak woodland in Spain
    • Comparison of oak woodland ranchers and ranching in California and Spain
    • Oaks and fire
    • Ranching sustainability self-assessment, a grass-roots effort to develop and implement a positive points system
    • Values and characteristics of native grasses
    • Grazing management for native grasses

For more information, contact:

Jim Zingo, 805-781-5938, jzingo@co.slo.ca.us, or Bill Tietje, 805-781-5938, wdtietje@nature.berkeley.edu

Registration

Space is limited.

Registration questions, contact Sherry Cooper, 530-224-4902, slcooper@nature.berkeley.edu