Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Balancing Wildfires and Chaparral

Balancing Wildfires and Chaparral
Despite chaparral being California's most extensive, native plant community, it is often maligned as being fuel for wildfires. We'll talk about chaparral's role in the ecosystem and managing the wildland-urban interface.

Maureen Cavanaugh: During an interview on These Days about the recent Santa Barbara fire, there was a mention about overgrown chaparral on the hills. Well, one of our listeners took exception to that report and as it turns out, when it comes to chaparral, he knows what he's talking about.

Richard Halsey says referring to chaparral as overgrown is a basic misunderstanding of this plant system and could lead to land management mistakes. In fact, Halsey says chaparral, which is a native California plant community, gets dismissed too often as nothing but wildfire fuel, and that threatens both the California wilderness and our overall fire safety.

Advertisement

Guest

Rick Halsey, biologist and director for The California Chaparral Institute.

Fact-based local news is essential

KPBS keeps you informed with local stories you need to know about — with no paywall. Our news is free for everyone because people like you help fund it.

Without federal funding, community support is our lifeline.
Make a gift to protect the future of KPBS.