Protecting Plantings

Recently, I visited Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and was surprised to see mesh bags dotting the forest floor. Taking a closer look, I saw a variety of plants hidden under the mesh coverings.

Park ecologist Jeff Frey explain the park was encouraging these young and vulnerable plants to take root as part of an effort to turn areas of the park that were recently affected by park facility upgrades lush. Roads, trails, and the campfire circle are getting refreshed right now at Pfeiffer and the park hopes that the young trees and shrubs they’ve planted nearby will also add to visitors’ experience.

If the young plants take to their new environment and the mesh bags do fend off munching wildlife, Pfeiffer may look a tad greener next time you visit.

Learn about how you can help the League restore the Pfeiffer Falls Trail that was destroyed during the 2008 Chalk fire.

About the author

Emily Burns, the League’s former Director of Science, led the research program that includes the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative. She holds a PhD in Integrative Biology on the impacts of fog on coast redwood forest flora from the University of California, Berkeley.

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