Management strategies for central maritime chaparral

Central maritime chaparral (CMC) is a rare endemic plant community along California's central coast. Habitat loss and fragmentation from residential development threaten the survival of CMC. The California Coastal Commission is lacking comprehensive information on ecological requirements and management strategies for CMC. To assist this agency, information on CMC was gathered through an extensive literature review, vegetation surveys of conservation easements on residential parcels, and interviews with various agencies. Correlation analysis was used to determine if there was a correlation between the percent cover of non-native species and easement size, shape, and spatial arrangement. Presence of non-natives can be an indicator of the health of an ecosystem, since these species tend to thrive in disturbed areas. Results showed a significant correlation only between percent cover and easement shape. Recommendations for management strategies included protecting larger intact habitat areas, conducting prescribed burns, undertaking weed control, and improving monitoring and enforcement.