IHRMP-First Progress Report 6

First
Progress Report
July 1986–Dec 1987

University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Cooperative Extension

February 1988

ONGOING RESEARCH

Receipients of Research funding

Recipients of Research funding.

In FY 1986-87, UC funded 12 research projects in mainly basic and long-term studies, and CDF funded an additional 6 projects, emphasizing applied and shorter term studies. Research funds were awarded on a competitive basis to a wide array of individuals and institutions from among 70 proposals. Six funded projects were from State universities, five projects were from UC, six were from private individuals, and one project was from a private university.

A listing of these 18 projects follows; most continue into 1988.

1) Ecology and regeneration of hardwood rangelands: the influence of water, herbivory, and competition on stability, productivity and management options. Rice, Menke, and Welker, UCD.

2) Natural regeneration of hardwood range species in California. Lathrop and Griggs, Loma Linda University and The Nature Conservancy.

3) Oak woodland regeneration project. Pillsbury, Cal Poly SLO.

4) Effect of fire on seedlings and saplings of coast live oak and Engelmann oak. Zedler and Lawson, SDSU.

5) Ecophysical responses of oak seedlings during establishment: influence of water stress, nutrient stress, and mycorrhizae on survival, growth, and establishment of seedlings. Parker, SFSU.

6) Genetic variability of three California oak species: implications for regeneration of hardwood range. Riggs and Millar, GENREC.

7) Oak regeneration assessment. Hazel and Lang, Jones and Stokes Assoc.

8) Wildlife habitat relationships in the oak woodlands of California. Morrison and Block, UCB.

9) An investigation of the breeding habitat of cavity- nesting birds in a hardwood habitat. Noon and Waters, HSU.

10) Analysis of local control of hardwood use and protection. Green and Fairfax, HJ&W.

11) Inventory and analysis of the federal and state statutory environment for hardwood rangeland ownerships. Green and Fairfax, HJ&W.

12) Alternative management strategies for hardwood range. Herson and Lang, Jones and Stokes Assoc.

13) Price structures at big game hunting clubs in California. Fitzhugh and Loomis, UCD.

14) Development of a ranch model of California’s hardwood rangeland. Standiford, Howitt, and Berck, UCD and UCB.

15) California livestock industry economic model. Highstreet and Wessels, CH2M Hill.

16) Overstory canopy effects on forage production, quality, and utilization, and soil characteristics on hardwood rangelands. Frost and Duncan, CSUF.

17) Ecological site descriptions for hardwood range. Allen, UCB and HJ&W.

18) Assessment of California hardwood lands. Pillsbury, Cal Poly SLO.

Cleared rangeland may destabilize the soil and cause
soil slumping.

Oak roots can retard soil erosion and prevent soil slumping on steep slopes.

UC requires progress reports on all research projects, and most of these were due by December 1987. The first reports from CDF funded projects were also due at the end of December. Progress has been excellent, based on the reports received. Although all these studies have been underway for a relatively short time, they show much promise for answering questions necessary to better manage and protect hardwoods.

A meeting of researchers funded by the IHRMP is scheduled for 10 February 1988 to be followed by a meeting of the Policy Advisory Committee. The meeting will increase coordinated efforts and communication among researchers and identify new research needs. Identified needs will be developed into requests for proposals for UC research funds anticipated to be available for FY 1988-89.

FY 1987-88 proposals received by CDF in response to an official notice published 1 December 1987 will be evaluated to make awards by mid-February 1988. Proposals for CDF funding in FY 1987-88 have been requested in the areas of 1) wildlife habitat relationships, 2) soil conditions and water quality, 3) insects and pathogens of oaks, and 4) techniques for restocking. Cooperative or joint projects will be encouraged. As stated previously, additional research projects, emphasizing the artificial regeneration of oaks, are being carried out by UCCE Specialists within the IHRMP itself.

The productive research effort evident in the IHRMP has developed due to extraordinary cooperation between UC and CDF to accomplish common goals. Much credit is due to the top-level administrators of both organizations who cut through significant barriers to make the program work. The present research funding is adequate to achieve the Program’s overall objectives if continued for a sufficient time-period to allow for application and demonstration of research results. The open, highly competitive, and selective process of research awards has contributed significantly to a productive and cost-effective research program. Additional work being carried out by CE’s Natural Resource Specialists is funded from various outside grants received by the individual Specialist and from program operational support monies.

University of California Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program, UC Berkeley. Last modified: 09/13/01
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