Martin Griffin Preserve, 4900 Shoreline HwyStinson Beach, CA
Saturday, October 17 at 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Overview
See how we're using beneficial fire to restore biodiversity in West Marin.
Join Director of Prescribed Fire Julia Berkey and Fire Ecologist Brian Peterson for a fire ecology walk along Bourne Ridge at Martin Griffin Preserve. During this educational walk, Brian and Julia will be your guides in learning about the importance of endangered coastal prairies and the ways we're using prescribed fire to restore this rich habitat. Along a short and strenuous one-mile uphill walk, we'll make frequent stops to observe and discuss the story of the landscape — which once a thriving coastal prairie. We’ll observe transformations of the landscape through the encroachment of dense trees and shrubs. You'll see first-hand how we're using beneficial fire to restore the land and awaken the seedbank of coastal prairie native plants.
Coastal prairies, once dominant across California’s coastal landscapes, are often-overlooked biodiversity hotspots. They are among the state’s most rapidly vanishing ecosystems, with less than 1% of undisturbed prairie remaining. Coastal prairies are ecosystems that require disturbances, such as fire, to thrive. On Bourne Ridge, small remnants of these grasslands remain, with native seeds lying dormant beneath dense trees and shrubs. Since 2016, our Fire Forward program has been working to restore ecological balance by reintroducing beneficial fire to the landscape. Prescribed burns help reduce forest density, allowing more sunlight and space for native grassland species to regenerate. As sunlight reaches the soil, long-buried native plant seeds can germinate and flourish once again.
Your guides:
About Julia Berkey, Director of Prescribed Fire: Before coming to All Hands Ecology, Julia worked in Montana for the state creating fire-adapted communities and landscapes. Her focus was to increase the pace and scale of prescribed fire (including helping establish the Montana Prescribed Fire Council), pass legislation to allow for the creation of a Certified Burn Manager Program, and host the state's first-ever prescribed fire TREX (training exchange).
Along with a passion for restoring the natural role of fire to both ecosystems and human systems, Julia brings deep experience in facilitative leadership and an enthusiasm for building effective teams. Julia holds a master's degree in systems ecology from the University of Montana with a focus on fire ecology and wilderness fire management, as well as a deep respect for and interest in the role of fire in ecosystem restoration.
About Brian Peterson, Fire Ecologist: Brian received a master’s degree from San Francisco State University in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology in 2015. His graduate research investigated the relationship between seed caching rodents and manzanita recruitment after fire. Getting his start in 1997 doing oak woodland restoration and fuels reduction work in Southern Oregon, Brian has gone on to work as a botanist and vegetation ecologist all across the California floristic providence, including on research projects at the Farallon Islands, Yosemite’s Illoette Valley, Sierra Foothills, Mount Diablo State Park, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, Sugarloaf State Park, and Pepperwood Preserve. He worked with Nomad Ecology where he focused on botanical studies in post-fire chaparral. Brian has completed two Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX) and is trained as a wilderness first responder. Most recently, Brian served as the Interim Director of our Fire Forward program and currently serves as a board director of the California Native Grassland Association.