Our Mission

The wildfire risk management and forest health project started on July 14 and concluded on August 22, 2025. It takes many agencies to execute a project of this scope. Greenspace would like to thank the Upper Salinas Las Tablas RCD for their management of the overall project. Along with ARC Forestry, SWCA Environmental Consultants and Firestorm Wildfire Suppression, who are the actual boots on the ground in the canyon.

Strawberry Canyon, located in Cambria, CA, is one of five stands of native Monterey pine forests in the world and designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat (ESHA). This ecosystem is habitat to a wide range of natural communities and sensitive species and requires careful and strategic practices to promote a healthy, resilient and fire wise forest.  

Some of the management strategies in Strawberry Canyon for this project include: 

1) Monitoring, evaluating and surveying to identify nest areas, dens and establishing appropriate buffer space to minimize disturbance to wildlife and sensitive species habitat. 2) Flagging all specimens for their designated management practices. 

3) Removing dead and diseased trees while retaining a strategic number of snags (dead standing trees) and dead logs per acre (provide critical habitat for wildlife). 

4) Removing invasive plants. 

5) Retention of native shrubs in a mosaic-like pattern (toyon, coffeeberry, coyote brush). 

6) Chipped piles (not exceeding certain depth) along with lop and scatter. 

7) Careful attention to appropriate watershed protection. 

Buildup of vegetation, dead materials, and overstocked forests leads to increased competition for resources which makes the forest weaker, prone to disease and more vulnerable to wildfires. The work being done in Strawberry Canyon is vital for promoting a healthy forest which supports native habitat, biodiversity and resilience with the goal of lessening the intensity of a wildfire.

Continued efforts are being made to support the Strawberry Canyon ecosystem. The next steps in the canyon are:

-Understory habitat restoration project funded through the USLT-RCD.

-Herbivory (sheep and goats) next spring to help contain grasses and some invasive plants.

-Research by CalPoly and Cuesta college students on the recovery of a forest after a fuel reduction project and wildlife studies as well.