FUTURE IHRMP EFFORTS

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Education, research and monitoring will continue to be important components to ensure wise management of California's oak resource on hardwood rangelands. To be effective, the IHRMP must continue to answer the important questions being posed by policy makers, landowners, and interest groups, and to provide these answers in a manner that can be understood and put into practice. The program must demonstrate that these answers are being provided in order that the impacts of the education and research effort can be adequately assessed by policy makers.

The IHRMP has made considerable headway in its first five years of operation in developing a better understanding of the basic ecological principals guiding oak woodlands, designing management practices to sustain this resource, and communicating the practices to landowners, managers, and policy-makers.

As the IHRMP looks ahead to its next five years, it is quite clear that a team effort by UC, CDF, and other state agencies is highly effective in addressing concerns about the conservation of hardwood rangelands. The regional orientation of the education and applied research components of the program, facilitated by the regional assignments of the CE specialists, has been useful because of the diversity of hardwood rangelands in different geographic areas, and the need to find site-specific solutions. This regional orientation has also made networking possible between the diverse groups interested in hardwood rangelands. On the other hand the centralization of mapping and monitoring by CDF’s FRRAP program, has facilitated statewide policy analysis and pointed out specific research and information gaps.

The IHRMP has had its major effect in increasing knowledge about ecological processes and sustainable management at the individual stand level. Specific methodologies on assessing sustainability, wildlife habitat suitability, and integrated management practices are quite possible using the tools developed by the IHRMP. It is clear, however, that future efforts need to be directed to landscape level analysis and management. There are major forces in the state, primarily through the process of urbanization driven by large population increases, that are fragmenting the hardwood rangelands and impacting their future ecological values. In addition, a landscape approach will be needed because of the intermingling of hardwood rangelands with other habitat types, such as chaparral lands, conifer forests, and riparian areas.

Oak Projects For Youth Environmental Education In order to communicate the principals of oak conservation to a general audience, increasing emphasis has been placed on education of youth. A number of different curriculums have been developed and are being implemented in programs throughout California. Calaveras County Farm Adviser Ken Churches put together the first outreach program on oak conservation for youth several years ago. This project was designed to teach youth about the value of oaks to our environment, their propagation, and their care. The "4-H Oak Tree Project" consisted of both a videotape and booklet and was developed for less than $900. Since development, these materials have been very well received statewide. Currently, they are being utilized by 4-H programs in 27 counties in California and more than 100 video packages have been ordered by other counties throughout the United States. Large numbers have also been purchased and/or copied by the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Trust for Public Lands. More than 1,000 youth members enrolled in the project during the past three years in Calaveras County alone. This year, the program won state competition in the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents and is currently being considered for National honors. This was also the second year for a 4-H oak regeneration project in San Diego County. Approximately 500 youth from 16 clubs participated in this project. The members planted oak seedlings grown from the previous year’s acorn crop in public parks, schools, and on private property. The members also sold some oaks to private landowners and developers to help defray costs of equipment and supplies. The oak regeneration project has now moved from just a countywide event to a project that is replicated at the local club level. In addition, a booklet has been put together to provide ideas for other 4-H activities on oak conservation. The interest and concern generated from these programs has resulted in new volunteers participating in 4-H and has sparked more environmental and natural resources projects and activities.