FT 13

Coastal Ecosystems of Northern California: Oceans, Mountains, Forests, Farms

An easy drive west from Sacramento brings you to the rugged coastlines and forests of Marin County, home to ancient redwood groves, working farms, massive fault lines, and three national parks. It is known as the birthplace of both sudden oak death and award-winning cheeses, each of which you’ll hear more about on this tour. At Muir Woods National Monument, you’ll walk and picnic among the towering redwoods. Millions of visitors come to this forest, also a site of a sudden oak death infestation. We’ll discuss how the disease impacts the visitors, and vice versa. A coastal drive north along panoramic Highway 1 brings us to Pt. Reyes National Seashore. There, you’ll straddle the North American and Pacific plates along the San Andreas Fault while experts in forest ecology, plant pathology, geology, and fire ecology discuss the latest research and what it means for land management. The rich agricultural bounty of Marin County – everything from produce, beef, and cheese, to bread, olive oil, and mead – will be on display in our final activity. A panel of local practitioners will discuss how the unique history and partnerships of agricultural producers in Marin County allow for the mutual conservation of resources both cultural and natural, while we sample some of the best local products of the area.