Chaparral
Protecting California’s imperiled shrubland ecosystems
Chaparral is one of California’s most prolific yet misunderstood habitat types. Adapted to drought and shaped by infrequent fire, the state’s hardy shrublands support a disproportionately large amount of biodiversity. But climate change, wildfire response, and development threaten this foundational habitat as never before, CNPS is working with partners statewide to protect, map, and monitor this irreplaceable ecosystem.
Chaparral is one of California’s most distinctive and biodiverse ecosystems. Here’s what makes it remarkable.
Healthy chaparral helps reduce wildfire severity, stabilize slopes, and conserve water, but widespread chaparral removal is common across California. When chaparral is cleared, it opens space for flammable, faster-burning weeds that increase fire severity and frequency. CNPS works to inform policy and land management practices that work with not against this vital natural resource.
CNPS and partners are mapping the vegetation of the Central California Coast and Southern California mountains and valleys regions, home to much of California’s chaparral. This work tells us where chaparral occurs, how it’s changing, and where conservation is most urgently needed.
Through the CNPS Manual of California Vegetation, scientists are documenting the full range of chaparral types—from maritime and near-coastal to inland and montane. In the Central Coast alone, more than 150 distinct chaparral associations have been identified, including dozens found only in that region.
Many people believe that bulldozing and removing chaparral will help reduce wildfire risk. In fact, this can make it much worse. Healthy chaparral ecosystems are fire resilient, but their clearance hastens the arrival of fast-burning invasive weeds.
This dynamic has increased the fire-return interval in California, inhibiting chaparral’s regenerative capacity and increasing risk to communities.
To avoid further harm, California’s wildfire management practices require a more nuanced approach based on the unique characteristics of the state’s varied habitats. What works in the forest isn’t the same as what will work for chaparral.
CNPS worked with experts across the state to develop two science-based resources on California native plants and wildfire:
California Fires: Challenges and Proposed Solutions
California Wildfire Recovery Guide
Credit Nancy Buck.
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