2026.06.18 | Forest Health Work Coming this Fall

Summer is upon us, but we are deep into planning for this fall when Fiscalini Ranch Preserve will benefit from a CAL FIRE forest health grant given to San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Council. This grant will support significant work toward improving and protecting the health of Cambria's rare Monterey pine forest, all at no cost to FFRP or the Cambria Community Services District.

Like many large conservation projects, this effort brings together several experienced partners. The Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District will oversee the work, with guidance from Auten Resource Consulting of Watsonville. FFRP has participated in two years of project planning.

The Ranch is fortunate to be included in this program. The project team has extensive experience improving the health of Cambria’s Monterey pine forest through successful work on Covell Ranch, Hearst Ranch, Strawberry Canyon, Rancho Marino, and other properties in and around Cambria. 

Work is scheduled to take place after bird nesting season and before the start of the fall rains. Approximately 55 acres of forest will be treated to improve forest health, wildlife habitat, and long-term resilience.

Project goals include:

• Maintaining a healthy forest of Monterey pines, oaks, and a diverse mix of understory plants that support a wide variety of wildlife. Important habitat features such as standing dead trees, downed logs, age-class diversity, and small forest openings will be retained.
• Removing dead, dying, diseased, and overcrowded Monterey pine trees to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.
• Protecting important overwintering habitat for monarch butterflies through coordination with the Xerces Society.
• Encouraging the growth of a new generation of healthy Monterey pines, including planting trees in areas where natural regeneration is limited.

Biologists will monitor the project throughout the work to help protect wildlife and rare plants and to avoid or minimize impacts wherever possible.

This project will help strengthen the long-term health of the Ranch’s unique forest while supporting wildlife habitat, improving forest resilience, and reducing wildfire hazards.

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