• Frost, W. E. Overstory canopy effects on forage production, quality, and utilization and soil characteristics on hardwood rangelands (ends 6/90).
  

Education and Applied Research Results on Management

Pressure on landowners to harvest oaks on their property has decreased in the past several years due to relatively flat real prices for firewood, and improvement of ranch profitability due to increased cattle prices. The IHRMP has worked closely with landowners to ensure that firewood harvesting that does take place maintains the multiple use values of a site, and ensures sustainability of the oak resource. Growth and yield data developed as part of the research program has been modified into tables that landowners can use to assess sustained yield levels of firewood harvest on their land. Educational materials have been developed to address how wildlife and other environmental values can be maintained during firewoood operations.

Workshops oriented to landowners have continued to be important educational tools. Increased emphasis by farm advisors on integrated resource management for ranchers has given a good opportunity for the IHRMP to show how oak conservation goals can be incorporated into ranch planning. The relationship between oaks and different grazing strategies, and incorporation of family financial and quality of life goals have been emphasized in these workshops held in eight different counties.

The relationship between prescribed burning and oak sustainability is being evaluated in Madera County and also at the Hopland Field Station. Studies are underway to evaluate how prescribed burning impacts natural oak regeneration. The effect of fire on oak advance regeneration and its survival, form and growth rate is being evaluated. Also, the role that fire and grazing play on the establishment of oak seedlings is being investigated.

Multiple use demonstration sites are established in several areas in the Central Coast, and at the Sierra and Hopland Field Stations. These are excellent locations to illustrate to landowners and professional resource managers how oak canopies can be managed for multiple economic outputs, while maintaining environmental values of the site.

Recognition that oaks on private rangeland produce public value has led to new institutions to provide landowners with oak conservation incentives. The California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP), a cost-share program to encourage tree planting and wildlife habitat improvements administered by CDF, has been expanded to include owners of hardwood rangelands. A new federal cost-share program, known as the Forest Stewardship Program, administered jointly by CDF and the USDA Forest Service, can be used by hardwood range landowners to provide cost-share funds to encourage the development of land management plans for both market and non-market values. Although just starting, the Forest Stewardship program offers opportunities for landowners to work closely with professional resource managers to maintain the environmental values of a site.
Pressure on landowners to harvest oaks on their property has decreased in the past several years due to relatively flat real prices for firewood, and improvement of ranch profitability due to increased cattle prices. The IHRMP has worked closely with landowners to ensure that firewood harvesting that does take place maintains the multiple use values of a site, and ensures sustainability of the oak resource. Growth and yield data developed as part of the research program has been modified into tables that landowners can use to assess sustained yield levels of firewood harvest on their land. Educational materials have been developed to address how wildlife and other environmental values can be maintained during firewoood operations.

Workshops oriented to landowners have continued to be important educational tools. Increased emphasis by farm advisors on integrated resource management for ranchers has given a good opportunity for the IHRMP to show how oak conservation goals can be incorporated into ranch planning. The relationship between oaks and different grazing strategies, and incorporation of family financial and quality of life goals have been emphasized in these workshops held in eight different counties.

The relationship between prescribed burning and oak sustainability is being evaluated in Madera County and also at the Hopland Field Station. Studies are underway to evaluate how prescribed burning impacts natural oak regeneration. The effect of fire on oak advance regeneration and its survival, form and growth rate is being evaluated. Also, the role that fire and grazing play on the establishment of oak seedlings is being investigated.

Multiple use demonstration sites are established in several areas in the Central Coast, and at the Sierra and Hopland Field Stations. These are excellent locations to illustrate to landowners and professional resource managers how oak canopies can be managed for multiple economic outputs, while maintaining environmental values of the site.

Recognition that oaks on private rangeland produce public value has led to new institutions to provide landowners with oak conservation incentives. The California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP), a cost-share program to encourage tree planting and wildlife habitat improvements administered by CDF, has been expanded to include owners of hardwood rangelands. A new federal cost-share program, known as the Forest Stewardship Program, administered jointly by CDF and the USDA Forest Service, can be used by hardwood range landowners to provide cost-share funds to encourage the development of land management plans for both market and non-market values. Although just starting, the Forest Stewardship program offers opportunities for landowners to work closely with professional resource managers to maintain the environmental values of a site.

ABOVE: Workshops for landowners and resource managers have emphasized oak conservation. BELOW: Livestock production is the major land use on hardwood rangelands.

ABOVE: Workshops for landowners and resource managers have emphasized oak conservation. BELOW: Selective firewood harvesting can be used to enhance profitability and maintain private open space.

Trends and Future Needs
Future work in management of hardwood rangelands will be to continue to integrate research results into practical land management practices. Results from the grazing management studies will be incorporated into the range management recommendations in the Preliminary Guidelines For Managing Hardwood Rangelands. Non-game wildlife management strategies will be incorporated into the Preliminary Guidelines. Also needed is a framework to evaluate diverse landscapes within hardwood rangelands. Recommendations to date have focused on the single stand level. The effort in continuing education of professionals that has been started will be expanded in the upcoming year. Previous activities have focused on monitoring hardwood range resources (see case study below). New areas of emphasis will be on teaching hardwood range managers to design prescriptions to meet various ownership objectives.

Resource Professional Shortcourses on Hardwood Monitoring A series of one-day educational programs have been held for professional resource managers on the concepts involved in monitoring hardwood rangelands. Eight different workshops have been held throughout the state. These professional continuing education programs have been jointly sponsored by Fresno State University, UC/IHRMP, and the Society for Range Management. Practical field exercises on hardwood range monitoring are used to encourage participants to quickly apply the techniques upon their return to their jobs. The elements involved in designing a monitoring program are presented, as well as sampling procedures for forage productivity and composition, brush cover and composition, and oak stand structure. Approximately 100 people have attended these programs. As a direct measure of the success of these programs, the USDA Forest Service has utilized the concepts presented in these programs in the development of a hardwood range component in the forest plans in at least two different national forests. Professional range managers have been the dominant profession represented at these shortcourses, with large numbers of wildlife biologists in attendance as well. Very few registered professional foresters (RPFs) have attended to date. Future programs will attempt to increase the participation of the RPF.