Over the past several years, we have become increasingly involved in educating the community about fire ecology and the ways that people can adapt to this inevitable force of nature. We continue to give presentations, produce educational materials, and engage in complicated policy discussions.
However, one of the best ways to learn about fire ecology across our local landscape is to get outside and see how ecosystems like chaparral regrow in the years following a fire.
To further increase awareness and education about this important topic, we have started a series of free hikes that focus on fire ecology. The first in this series was held in early February and led by our conservation director and naturalist, Bryant Baker. The educational hike was a collaboration between ForestWatch and the Santa Ynez Valley Community Action Alliance.
This first “FireHike” took place in the Gaviota Peak area earlier this month. Nearly thirty community members joined us for a hike along Trespass Trail there to learn about an area that burned in the 2004 Gaviota Fire. Entirely chaparral and oak woodland, this area has regrown spectacularly since that fire almost 16 years ago. While it may not be obvious now that a fire occurred there, many clues about the area’s past remain.
Attendees hiked a little under four miles and learned about a myriad of plant species growing within and around the burned area. From identifying native hollyleaf cherry pits in coyote scat to finding the burnt stems hidden among resprouting greenbark ceanothus, much was covered.
Perhaps the most striking thing about the burn area was how much it had regrown. Many of the bigpod ceanothus that repopulated the area from fire-stimulated seeds are now 10 feet tall, casting shade on some sections of the trail. Nearby, still-blackened coast live oaks are covered in green foliage.
Thank you to all who attended the hike. The questions and conversation were wonderful. And thank you to Santa Ynez Valley Community Action Alliance for co-hosting with us.
You can attend the next FireHike in the Thomas Fire area just outside of Ojai on March 29. Learn more and RSVP here.
Check out more photos from the hike below:
Comments are closed.