Blog - Forest Research and Outreach

A post-fire area of the Sierra Nevada mountains with negligible conifer regeneration. (Joseph Stewart, UC Davis/USGS) In the aftermath of megafires that devastated forests of the western United States, attention turns to whether forests will regenerate on their own or not.

When the Detwiler Fire broke out near his family's ranch in 2017, Tony Toso was home to take defensive action to protect his family and animals. The Mariposa County rancher feels fortunate that he was on site. We were on the front end of the fire damage and it started on a Sunday, recalled Toso.

The Mediterranean oak borer (Xyleborus monographus), or MOB, is an invasive ambrosia beetle that was first collected from declining oak trees (Quercus spp.) near Calistoga (Napa County) in 2019 (Fig 1).

After a lengthy and rigorous review by independent auditors, UC Merced can proudly announce it is the first public research university in the country to achieve carbon neutrality, two years ahead of its goal.

In California, ~9 million acres of forestland are owned by individuals, with ~90% of these owners owning less than 50 acres each. Considering California has ~33 million acres of total forestland, that 9 million acres makes up to a lot of our state's forests that individuals are responsible for.