Monthly Program – February 2023

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME FOR THIS PROGRAM – 7:00pm

FROM THE ASHES:
LIFE AFTER WILDFIRE IN THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST

What happens in the first days, weeks, and months after a fire comes to our region and leaves nothing but burnt stems and ash behind? What do our local ecosystems look like a year later? Two years later? Ten years later? These are the questions naturalist and photog-rapher Bryant Baker set out to answer during his explorations of burned areas in and around the Los Padres National Forest. Through this virtual visual journey, see the unique phases of ecosystem regrowth, learn about the different strategies plants and animals use to cope with wildfire, and find out what lies ahead as these places continue to recover.

Bryant Baker is the Director of Conservation and Research at Los Padres ForestWatch, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Barbara, and dedicated to protecting the Los Padres National Forest and other public lands in the region. His research focuses on fire ecology and management in shrubland and forest ecosystems in California. Bryant is also a Geographic Information System (GIS) analyst and cartographer, and his maps on land use and wildfire have been published by major media outlets.

In addition to his conservation research, Bryant is a plant and landscape photographer spe-cializing in post-fire habitats and native plants in California. His work has appeared in books, magazines, and newspapers across the region.

In Person

Masks will be required, and the in person group will be limited to a maximum of thirty to allow for social distancing purposes, so please RSVP to the Programs Coordinator to reserve a seat.

Via Zoom

To attend this meeting, use this link (https://zoom.us/j/6155249106) at the meeting time.