SCH Number 2025091342

Project Info

Title

VCPBA Oak Woodland Conservation 2025-2029

Description

The Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association (VCPBA) seeks to reintroduce prescribed fire—through both broadcast and pile burns—across three distinct oak forest types in Ventura County, California. In close partnership with the local Chumash community and broader Indigenous collaborators, the VCPBA is working to restore the practice of Good Fire to these fire-adapted landscapes. The Chumash and Tataviam peoples have an expansive history using fire as a cultural and ecological stewardship tool to maintain the health of native plant communities. Centuries of fire suppression and the disruption of Indigenous land management have contributed to the loss of old-growth oaks, particularly in the wake of recent high-severity wildfires. When mature oaks are lost--especially Valley Oaks--it can take over 200 years for new trees to reach comparable maturity and ecosystem function, including canopy coverage and acorn production. This project aims to reduce the risk of old-growth oak mortality by using prescribed fire to manage hazardous understory fuels and deadwood, protect oak cambium, and lower wildfire risk for nearby communities. Additional objectives include identifying and mitigating threats from the invasive Golden-Spotted Oak Borer, expanding collaborative learning, training, and capacity-building opportunities between VCPBA and Indigenous land stewards.

2 documents in project