Resilient Restoration project researchers, Dr. Lluvia Flores-Renteria and Dr. Megan Jennings from San Diego State University, with permission and guidance from several partnering Tribes, gathered thousands of acorns for our project. Since then, over 1700 acorns have been growing in the greenhouse! This was more than was needed for the experiment, so the extras found their way home early. See the acorns’ journey from seed to seedling in today’s blog!
Identified by the Climate Science Alliance’s Tribal Working Group as a Resilient Restoration project priority, the research into better understanding the diversity of oak species and their resilience to the impacts of climate change is well under way.
With permission and guidance from several partnering Tribes, Resilient Restoration project researchers, Dr. Lluvia Flores-Renteria and Dr. Megan Jennings from San Diego State University, gathered thousands of acorns from across Southern California. From this, viable acorns flourished in the greenhouse with a 70% propagation rate. In total, 1700 acorns sprouted--more than was needed for the greenhouse experiments. With a motto of “No Oak Left Behind” the extra sprouts were escorted back home to tribal lands.
Through several COVID-safe handoffs between project lead, Dr. Megan Jennings, and Climate Science Alliance Director, Dr. Amber Pairis, acorn sprouts were returned to their homelands where they will be planted.
The Resilient Restoration project, funded by the California Strategic Growth Council's Climate Change Research Program, is a collaborative effort of the Climate Science Alliance's Tribal Working Group, University of California Riverside, and San Diego State University. The goal of the Resilient Restoration project is to support our partners to advance adaptation and resilience activities through the development of knowledge and supporting actions that enhance persistence of cultural practices with a focus on preserving the ecosystems and species that are integral to Tribal communities.
Thank you to the Climate Science Alliance Tribal Working Group members for your leadership role in the Resilient Restoration project and laying out our vision, priorities, goals, and deliverables.
Resilient Restoration is supported by California Strategic Growth Council’s Climate Change Research Program with funds from California Climate Investments—Cap-and-Trade Dollars at Work.