California ‘browning’ more in the south during droughts
Vegetation in the southern part of the state is being hit harder due to climate change, UCLA-led study finds
Topical Tag: Conservation
The Magazine
UCLA researchers studying how the Woolsey fire affects plant and animal recovery
Teams will monitor burn areas in the Santa Monica Mountains examining effects throughout the food chain
Solving the ‘green wine puzzle’ (Video)
Eco-friendly wines taste better, but they don’t command higher prices in the marketplace. Learn why from UCLA professor Magali Delmas and Bonterra Organic Vineyards
Events
Symposium
Blue Prosperity Symposium
2019 Student Research Presentations
5.10.2019
The first year of research for the Blue Prosperity program at UCLA concludes with a series of presentations by student researchers from the Anderson School of Management, the Luskin School of Public Policy, and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES). Presentations will focus on topics relating to sustainable development in Pacific Islands, addressing:...
Special Event
Bird LA Day at UCLA: a sensory exploration of birds of the world
by UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
5.4.2019
As you wander through sections of the Garden representing Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, SoCal, and more, you can listen to the songs and calls of each area’s characteristic birds using our phone-based audio tour. The Garden will also host a presentation about some of UCLA’s groundbreaking bird research, including the Bird Genoscape Project and the Center for Tropical Research....
Lecture Series
UCLA La Kretz Center Annual Public Lecture: California on Fire
by UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science
5.2.2019
Featuring Carla D’Antonio from UC Santa Barbara, Jon Keeley from US Geological Survey, and Seth Riley from the National Park Service. The event will be moderated by Victoria Sork, UCLA Dean of Life Sciences.
People
Projects
Sustainable ebony production in the Congo Basin
Rainforests have long been recognized for their importance to the entire planet. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, something all animals need to survive. They are also home to some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, boasting a vast array of plants and animals, many of which are still undiscovered by humans....
Western Pond Turtle at-risk species assessment
The western pond turtle is California’s only native freshwater turtle. The turtle’s numbers have been declining due to urbanization, limited water availability, and competition or predation from invasive species — making it a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is performing a pre-listing...
Bouncing Back: Enabling our student workforce to document post-fire ecological recovery of the Santa Monica Mountains
On November 8th, 2018 the Woolsey fire swept across the Santa Monica Mountains. It claimed 96,949 acres of undeveloped land in the mountains, making it the most extensive fire ever recorded in the region. 1,643 structures were lost, and the ecological and environmental impacts on the flora and fauna of the Santa Monica Mountains are...
Publications
Political & Economic Drivers of Wildland-urban Interface (WUI) Development in California
S. Kennedy, S. Pincetl
Presentation | 2018
Repeated mowing to restore remnant native grasslands invaded by nonnative annual grasses: upsides and downsides above and below ground
Justin M. Valliere, Susan Balch, Carole Bell, Carlos Contreras, Bridget E. Hilbig
Published Work | 2018 | Restoration Ecology
Assessing effects of nonnative crayfish on mosquito survival
Gary M. Bucciarelli, Daniel Suh, Avery Davis Lamb, Dave Roberts, Debra Sharpton, H. Bradley Shaffer, Robert N. Fisher, Lee B. Kats
Published Work | 2018 | Conservation Biology
In the News
Headline
4.12.2019
Congo Basin Institute in BBC: How to save the ebony tree
Taylor Guitar and UCLA’s Congo Basin Institute are trying to save the ebony tree in Cameroon. This BBC video talks about the ebony project and how Taylor Guitars is investing in the future of ebony trees.
Headline
3.17.2019
Former La Kretz Postdoc discusses his career in animal studies
John Benson is now an assistant professor with the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Headline
3.4.2019
Thomas Smith presentation + Q&A at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Thomas Smith is the founding director of the Center for Tropical Research and co-executive director of the Congo Basin Institute. He presented on his work and experience in the Congo Basin.
Video
Open for business in the Congo rainforest
Recently, crew of college students from UCLA and Cameroon left convenience behind and plunged into the rainforest. Their objective: reopen a field station that had been shuttered for two decades, while taking the pulse of local wildlife. Through their efforts and a project from UCLA’s Congo Basin Institute, the Bouamir research station is again open...
Biodiversity in 2050 LA
H. Bradley Shaffer, Director, La Kretz Center; Professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
La Kretz Center Discussion: Life in the L.A. River
A discussion presented in partnership with the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum With the imminent revitalization of the L.A. River, the city’s landscape is about to transform. But how will the restoration project impact life in and around the river? In partnership with the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, the Natural...