Oak woodland conservation management planning in southern CA - lessons learned

Abstract

The California Oak Woodlands Conservation Act (AB 242 2001) established requirements for the preservation and protection of oak woodlands and trees, and allocated funding managed by the Wildlife Conservation Board. In order to qualify to use these funds, counties and cities need to adopt an oak conservation management plan. Between 2008 and 2011, a team of concerned arborists, biologists, county foresters, planners, and other stakeholders wrestled with questions such as how to define an oak woodland in southern California, how much oak woodlands are worth, and examined the costs associated with a) losing existing oak woodlands; b) preserving existing oak woodlands; and c) expanding oak woodland habitat to suitable areas in the county. These efforts resulted in adoption of the Los Angeles County Oak Woodland Conservation Management Plan in 2011. However, it took until 2014 to work out the associated implementation plans for regional planning and public work staffs. The pitfalls and successes of developing this plan will be discussed in hopes of sharing the lessons learned with others.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world

Citation

Dagit, Rosi. 2015. Oak woodland conservation management planning in southern CA - lessons learned. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Purcell, Kathryn L., tech. cords. Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-251. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 471-479.