Oak Habitat Restoration at Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve

Oak restoration project area / Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve

Oak habitats are a vital contributor to biodiversity, supporting a diverse range of plants and animals that differ remarkably from conifer forests in comparison. With more than 300 wildlife species known to use oaks, including dozens of resident and migratory birds, oak environments are one of the most biologically diverse habitats in California. Unfortunately, oak habitats face a variety of stressors, including climate change, loss of habitat structure, invasive species, land use conversion, and confider encroachment, and under such conditions are at risk of disappearing.

To restore the health and function of oak woodland habitat in the North Coast region as well as reducing the likelihood of severe wildfires, Wildlands has partnered with Lomakatsi Restoration Project, a nonprofit grassroots organization that develops and implements forest and watershed restoration initiatives. Working alongside our partners, Wildlands is building a more resilient ecosystem at Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve.

Through funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Partnership Program, Lomakatsi Restoration Project began work at Wildlands Beaver Valley Headwaters in 2022. Phase one of the ongoing Oak Woodland Habitat Restoration Project has concluded with over 100 acres of the preserve going through a cutting and piling process in order to increase wildfire resiliency and improve overall forest health. Phase two of the project, slated to begin in the fall, will expand oak habitat restoration work impacting an additional 100 acres.

Central to the mission of The Wildlands Conservancy is to help heal the Earth for the benefit of plants, wildlife, and people. We are pleased to be furthering our mission at Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve, working in tandem with our partners, to protect and promote the development of habitat for oak-associated wildlife and for future generations to enjoy the beauty of majestic oak woodlands.