The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is proposing to conduct comprehensive rare and invasive plant surveys throughout the Zaca and Jesusita fire sites while also identifying areas in need of recovery projects and collecting seed for conservation and restoration. Utilizing staff from our Research and Conservation Department as well as volunteers and support from six partner organizations, we will deliver maps, data tables, photographs, herbarium specimen data, and California Natural Diversity Database forms, along with a comprehensive report on our findings and recommendations. Our work will reveal both high value and compromised habitat, as well as eroded or otherwise degraded areas, and thus identify priority areas for fire recovery and ecological restoration actions. We will also outreach to thousands of citizens regarding our work and findings to impart the value of biodiversity and our open spaces.
This project may be adjusted in scope to address funding variables.