East Bay Hills Vegetation Management & Fire Risk Reduction Urban Forestry Tour
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
7:45am - 3:35pm PST
Location: Departs from Sheraton Grand Sacramento (J St.)
CFE 4 / ISA CEU 4 / ESA CEU 1
The San Francisco-Oakland urban area has suffered destructive wildfires since the early 20th century, resulting in loss of life and property. In the last decade, there has been an increasingly urgent effort to reduce the size and intensity of fires and the damage they cause in this urban area. On this field tour, participants will visit three locations where actions are being implemented, such as tree thinning, vegetation management, shaded fuel breaks, prescribed burning, and roadside management of vegetation for emergency egress.
Recommended Clothing/Gear: Appropriate for weather; sturdy close-toed shoes or boots; long pants, hat, and sunscreen suggested Walking Conditions: Soft surfaces (mulched, gravel, grass, sand), hard surfaces (paved, boardwalks, concrete), AND rugged surfaces (forest floor, narrow paths, rock) Hike Difficulty Grading: Easy: Suitable for anyone who enjoys walking (under 3 miles, mostly level or with a slight incline)
Learning Objectives:
Discuss various methods of forest management that can ameliorate forest fire risk in densely populated and regulated urban environments.
Articulate the need for managing forest vegetation along evacuation routes.
Describe the role that non-native tree species, especially eucalyptus, play in California ecosystems and the risks they bring to the urban environment.
