Several months ago, Prescribed Fire Specialist Jared Childress had the pleasure to lead a small group of basket weavers from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) to the pygmy redwoods at Bouverie Preserve. They were looking for California hazel (Corylus cornuta var. californica) and were pleased by the quality of the post-fire shoots — thin, straight pliable basketry shoots that typically regrow only 1-2 years after burning. We learned so much observing their collection activities. Generously, the FIGR weavers group gifted the Preserve this traditional basket from the collected hazel. We look forward to sharing the story and the basket with the school kids when they return to the trail in the fall.

"Good stewardship entails looking after those in our care," says Quinton Martins, director of Living with Lions, in the recent Game Changers special edition of North Bay BIZ magazine. It's no surprise they found Quinton's optimism for community-driven conservation a compelling story but along the way they also discovered just how the project is winning the hearts of school children, landowners, volunteers and research partners.

As Executive Direction John Petersen says, "The work Quinton's doing is a perfect fit for ACR's mission—land stewardship, nature education and conservation science. We're fortunate to have him and his expertise as part of our team."

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From the latest edition of Marine Ornithology: In the Bay Area, the Double-crested Cormorant population has recovered from significant declines to reach population sizes comparable to those from the late 19th century, when only one colony offshore at the Farallon Islands was known. We were especially elated to observe that on the colony at Hog Island on Tomales Bay, formed in 2001, has become the largest in the study area since 2011.

ACR was pleased to co-author this report on the changes in abundance and distribution of nesting Double-crested Cormorants in the SF Bay Area from 1975-2017. The report was spurred by severe nesting disruptions observed during the construction of the new Bay Bridge. Download the full report from...

Over the past three decades, a great deal of research has been gathered on snags and their role in forest and wetland ecosystems. Snags, better known as dead trees or logs, play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in a number of habitats including oak woodlands, pine forests and riparian zones. In California alone, snags are home to over 160 different species, which is why government land managers have designated them as “special habitat elements.”

Forest ecologist Jerry Franklin states, “A dead tree is more alive than a live tree.” Dead trees are a vital part of nutrient cycling within forests. Logs, in particular, contribute to the nutrient reserves and chemical and physical characteristics of forest soils or waterways.

According to Sally Duncan of the U.S....