Informing habitat restoration in the Zaca Fire and Jesusita Fire scar areas

Summary

Habitat restoration funding is limited, so work must be prioritized. On one end of the spectrum, invasive plants that are extremely limited in distribution may potentially still be eradicated, whereas on the other end of the spectrum, invasive plants that are widespread in distribution should only be controlled in high-priority areas, such as those with multiple or high-value rare plants. Habitat restoration information was sought in the Zaca Fire scar (240,207 acres/97,208 hectares) and Jesusita Fire scar (8,733 acres/3,534 hectares) areas through comprehensive botanical surveys on all roads, maintained trails, and firebreaks via day hikes and backpacking, horseback, and mule trips. This project was used to train and mentor local students in botany, and to communicate our findings through social media and public presentations. Throughout the course of this project, at least 735 total miles (1,182 kilometers) were covered, and 604 populations of 44 weed taxa and 237 populations of 19 rare plant taxa were mapped. Also collected were 3,628 plant specimens for the Clifton Smith Herbarium, which will further the botanical knowledge for this little-surveyed area.