Forest Health and Wildfire Resiliency

The forests in Santa Cruz Mountains have significantly changed over the past two centuries, due to historic logging practices, land development, and in large part decades of fire suppression. The lack of natural process in our forest has resulted in excessive fuel buildup and invasive species are out-competing native vegetation. These conditions, coupled with extreme drought conditions, a warming climate, arid site-adapted conifer species displacing hardwoods and other sensitive species, are reducing biodiversity, and altering fire regimes. The result has been damaging to our unique ecosystem and will require environmentally sensitive management to redirect the path of changing climates and ecological conditions impacting our forests and community.

There is a clear need in Santa Cruz County to:

• Improve forest health
• Create adequate defensible space around homes and infrastructure
• Minimize fuel loads across larger landscapes
• Reduce the spread of invasive plants and pathogens
• Provide technical forestry assistance
• Provide post-fire landowner assistance to our community

In addition to addressing threats and impacts of wildfire, improved forest management is needed in the region to:

• Enhance stream and riparian function, protecting our water sources and ensuring we have access to clean, healthy drinking water;
• Restore critical habitats for threatened and endangered species;
• Restore the natural forest process to maximize greenhouse gas sequestration; and,
• Fortify our landscapes to reduce erosion to keep our ingress and egress routes accessible and minimize sediment loading of impaired waterways.
• Permit forest health and fuels management projects

The Conservation District is dedicated to building healthy and wildfire resilient forests. Through close partnerships with local agencies, organizations, and communities we offer services and programs that help landowners, both public and private, meet forest management goals.

Chipping Program - Promotes defensible space clearance around homes and roads through subsidized and non-cost chipping services of removed vegetation.

Forest Management - Provides resources to public and private landowners to improve forest health, complete vegetation management and create defensible space. Also helps secure funding to implement and manage large-scale collaborative on-the-ground projects.

Expedited Project Permitting - Develop programmatic permits and streamlined permitting tools for forest health and wildfire resiliency projects.

Forest Health and Wildfire Resiliency Regional Collaboration: Collaborating in regional forest and fire groups such as Santa Cruz Mountain Stewardship Network, Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County, and the Coastal Regional Prioritization Group to identify key projects, understand potential barriers, and develop solutions in partnership.

Post-Fire Response - Provides landscape level post-fire recovery resources and education.