VCPBA Oak Woodland Conservation 2025-2029

The Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association is set to implement a multi-year forest management initiative from 2025 to 2029 focused on conserving and protecting native oak woodlands across Ventura County. The project will involve systematic thinning, brushing, chipping, and prescribed burning—including both pile and broadcast burning—to reduce hazardous fuels and invasive vegetation that threaten mature oak trees, primarily Quercus agrifolia, Q. lobata, and Q. john-tuckeri. By removing undergrowth and dead woody material, the effort aims to prevent cambium-kill and canopy fires, thereby enhancing the resilience of oak stands against catastrophic wildfires. Additionally, the association will actively manage the invasive golden spotted oak borer by removing and chipping amplifier trees, applying insecticides to minimally infested oaks, and using controlled burns on bark to suppress beetle populations. In select areas, oak plantings will be introduced to restore native habitat and displace non-native invasive species such as yellow starthistle. All prescribed burning activities will require permits from the Ventura County Fire Department and the Ventura Air Pollution Control District, with burn units subject to inspection by the fire department prior to ignition. Operations will target key regions including Lockwood Valley, Ojai, and Simi Valley, where community safety and ecosystem health are most at risk. The project is led by the Ventura County Resource Conservation District, with Kevin Mason serving as the primary point of contact for fire preparedness. This long-term conservation strategy supports regional wildfire mitigation efforts, protects biodiversity, and promotes ecological recovery in sensitive oak woodland areas through science-based land management practices.