SURROUNDING WILDLANDS
A resilient landscape is fire-wise, water wise and promotes biodiversity by using California native plants. These gardens use sustainable practices, plant selection, and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in the defensible space zone. Resilient gardens save water, protect us from fire and promote biodiversity.
Reducing risk to life and property from wildfire should be approached with the following priorities:
- First, harden the structure, as described in the House section.
- Next, establish defensible space guided by information in the Landscape tabs.
- Finally, landowners with property beyond 100’ from the home and other structures should address vegetation management conducted for multiple goals and benefits.
Wildfire likelihood and intensity can be managed while protecting and enhancing biodiversity and habitat, soil and water quality, and climate adaptation. Wildland fuel management projects often simplify vegetation patterns, but habitat complexity is very important within a fire resilient landscape. Consult an experienced restoration or forestry specialist before initiating any wildland vegetation management project.
Our outreach around creating and maintaining defensible space has generated many questions about management of surrounding wildlands. Members of the Resilient Landscapes Coalition responded by partnering with other land management experts to create a number of workshops and other resources:
Beyond Defensible Space: A Deep Exploration into Wildland Fuel Management is a video of our presentation to the West Sonoma County community, June 1, 2022.
Beyond Defensible Space featuring Lightning Consultations is a video of a July 27, 2022 webinar that brought together land management experts to discuss real resource conservation issues on real Sonoma County properties.
Resources for Land Owners and Managers is a document with many useful links to land stewardship resources.
The University of California’s Forest Stewardship Program is a fantastic resource for landowners with larger properties.
What’s Next?
A team consisting of the Sonoma Ecology Center, University of California Cooperative Extension, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and the Pepperwood Preserve are initiating a Handbook of Principles and Practices for Vegetation Management in Sonoma County. This new project funded by the County of Sonoma Vegetation Management Grant Program brings together diverse partners from the private and public sectors to demonstrate how vegetation management can be conducted for multiple goals and benefits:
-
Photo by Jon Kanagy Reduce risk to life and property from wildfire
- Protect and enhance biodiversity
- Conserve natural resources: water quality and soil health
- Enhance scenic beauty
- Promote climate adaptation
- Ensure sustainable workforce development
The partnership will create multiple workshops in 2023, culminating in the production of the handbook, a valuable resource for making more informed planning decisions towards long-term, multiple benefits.
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