Project Description
According to the State of California PEF "The main objectives of this project will be to a) remove non-native, invasive trees from Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve, and to b) re-vegetate selected areas with appropriate native tree and shrub species. The project will foster environmental stewardship at Caspar Headlands SNR through the combined efforts of State Parks, the Caspar Community, and other State and local agencies."
The document considers this "an infestation" and, in order to get rid of it, has enlisted CalFire and fire crews from the Department of Corrections (Parlin Fork) to get it under control. The first phase of this work has been accomplished, looked like this in 2003.
Now it looks like this:
All that ocean and sky where the black outline is shows the view (from the Caspar Inn) that the Fire crews gave back to Caspar. It's almost back to 1994 levels, and there's one more cycle of cutting scheduled for later in Spring 2010.
short note to tree huggers
We all love trees, even these trees. But they are a terrible fire hazard -- see Australia in February 2009. Those of us who live nearby don't want to see this happen here.
What's worse: when they're not burning, they poison the ground, kill hummingbirds, and displace native habitat. They're bad actors. The plan is to replace these Eucalypts, once the ground has recovered, tree for tree with lower growing, native shore shrubs and trees. This is Restoration Forestry in action. You are invited to help. For more information on how a wildlife biologist thinks about these trees, see Peter Warner's indictment. |
State Parks' Mendocino District natural resources program proposes to work with local residents to facilitate the removal of invasive plants through increased cooperation and coordination, and this is an instance of that partnership. Under the direction of State Park Environmental Scientists, volunteers will remove the downed wood and then, with park staff, will plant the natives in appropriate locations on the Caspar Headlands. The newly revegetated areas will be maintained with the assistance of community volunteers.
Comments about State Parks' involvement in this project should be directed to project coordinator Angela Liebenberg, email ALIEBENBERG (at) parks.ca.gov -- substitute the cute little @ symbol. This link is cloaked for spam protection.
More Good News
Firewood harvesting operations have ended for 2009, but there will be more wood in 2010! Wood mining season usually begins in April. Please revisit this page then for more information.
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