Healthy, Functional Chaparral
Credit: Klamath Bird Observatory
Chaparral is a short, shrubby vegetation type that can be composed of a variety of plant species. In Southern Oregon and California chaparral habitat is often associated with oak woodlands.
Chaparral is a natural part of oak habitats, but it also poses a risk of spreading severe fire which can put large, old oak trees at risk. Because oak woodlands are threatened by loss and degradation, management initiatives sometimes reduce chaparral to reduce the risk of high-severity fire and promote a mix of low- to moderate-severity fire. Still, functioning oak woodland mosaics in southern Oregon need many types of vegetation cover, including patches of chaparral. Restoring and managing oak woodland ecosystems in this region requires learning how to best achieve a balanced vegetation composition that includes chaparral habitat components.
Oak stewardship guidelines by topic
A new resource summarizes planner guidelines that can be applied to prairie, oak savanna, oak chaparral, oak woodland, and mixed oak–conifer habitats. The table provides a concise, planner-focused crosswalk between ecological goals, management actions, NRCS practice codes, and bird species expected to benefit.
Below you will find desired conditions representing a characteristic of a healthy, functioning oak ecosystem from the “Restoring Oak Habitats in Southern Oregon and North California: A Guide for Private Landowners” developed by the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network in collaboration with the Umpqua Oak Partnership. They also present guidelines to help you achieve each desired condition, and these guidelines can be applied to oak savanna, oak chaparral, oak woodland, and mixed oak-conifer habitats.
