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The Green Blog shares news and information related to forestry/wildfire, sustainability, climate, environmental stewardship and other green topics.

Tree leaves and needles are removed because they block sunlight needed for marijuana plants. Pacific Southwest Region 5 photo, via Flickr

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New Cannabis Research Center to explore environmental, social impacts of legalization

January 29, 2019

Cannabis is unlike any other agricultural crop. Because of its circuitous history once illegal to grow, and now legal but heavily regulated cannabis has cast a unique footprint on the environment and the communities of farmers who grow it.

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Sheep and cattle grazing can reduce the fuel load for a potential wildfire. (Photo: Dan Macon)

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Livestock grazing helps California tackle wildfire

January 22, 2019

California is searching for solutions to the wildfire crisis. Livestock ranchers believe they can help.

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The exotic soilborne Phytopthora cinnamomi was introduced in the Ione area of the Sierra Nevada foothills, where it is literally wiping out two native manzanita species. This picture shows how vehicles spread the pathogen along roads and tracks by kicking up infected soil, killing nearby manzanita. (Photo: Matteo Garbelotto)

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Is habitat restoration actually killing plants in California wildlands?

January 4, 2019

In 2014, plant biologists with the California Department of Agriculture reported an alarming discovery: native wildflowers and herbs, grown in nurseries and then planted in ecological restoration sites around California, were infected with Phytophthora tentaculata, a deadly exotic plant pathogen tha...

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Landowners at a UCCE prescribed fire training are 'holding' the fire on the left side of the fire line that was cut using rakes and other hand tools. The landowner on the far left is firing the burn unit with a drip torch. (Photo: Ames Gilbert)

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Can rakes save forests? Yes, as long as you have a drip torch in the other hand

December 11, 2018

By Susan D Kocher, Robert A York

The humble rake has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, and its role as a forest management tool ridiculed and scorned. However, most fire professionals believe rakes are a necessary part of saving California's forests.

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Yellow and black mud dauber wasps are predators of spiders but harmless to people. Adults are about 1-inch in length with true wasp waists!

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Why mud daubers are on spider patrol

December 4, 2018

By Rachael Long

UC Cooperative Extension advisors are on the front line and get the most interesting questions from our community. Someone brought some wasps into our office, and was worried they were invading her home, and wondered how to get rid of them.

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