College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Content

Community Development Students Impact Policy as Part of Class

Rebecca D Huval — September 07, 2021 - 1:40pm

In Associate Professor Catherine Brinkley’s class, students don’t just learn about policy — they help to change it.

Burning Question: How to Save an Old-Growth Forest in Tahoe

Katherine E Kerlin — March 03, 2025 - 9:02am

On the shores of Lake Tahoe at Emerald Bay State Park grows what some consider to be the most iconic old-growth forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Giant ponderosa pines — some of the last remaining in the area — share space with at least 13 other tree species.

Vanilla Farmers Search for a Crop and Conservation Sweet Spot

Katherine E Kerlin — February 06, 2025 - 9:00am

Vanilla is vital to the livelihoods of farmers in Madagascar, where the globally popular dessert ingredient is the country’s No. 1 export. A fun, thought-provoking game designed by a team of scientists and played by Malagasy vanilla farmers reveals the challenges of payment programs that incentivize forest conservation in the region, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis.

How Urban Streams, Climate Change and Unhoused People Intertwine

Katherine E Kerlin — January 27, 2025 - 9:28am

A search for compassionate, sustainable solutions takes researchers to Bay Area streams to investigate the intersections of climate change, urban streams and unhoused people.

Dining Out with San Francisco’s Coyotes

Katherine E Kerlin — January 22, 2025 - 5:45am

As their traditional dining options dwindle, the native coyotes of San Francisco are shifting what they eat. A �ٺ��Ƶ study reveals what's on the menu.

Little Birds, Little Poops, Little Food Safety Risk

Katherine E Kerlin — January 21, 2025 - 2:16pm

It doesn’t require a degree in ornithology, a lab test or even an app for most growers to determine whether bird poop near their crops presents a food safety risk. They just need to ask themselves a simple question: How big is it?

Carnivorous Squirrels Documented in California

Katherine E Kerlin — December 18, 2024 - 1:00am

California ground squirrels hunt, kill and eat voles, reveals a study by �ٺ��Ƶ and UW-Eau Claire, sharing the first evidence of widespread carnivorous behavior among squirrels.

The High Cost of Carbon

Katherine E Kerlin — December 17, 2024 - 11:05am

The social cost of carbon — an important figure used to analyze the benefits of climate policies — is too low, finds �ٺ��Ƶ study.

Shrubs Can Help or Hinder a Forest’s Recovery After Wildfire

Katherine E Kerlin — December 16, 2024 - 10:12am

When and where to plant tree seedlings restore forests after wildfires has a lot to do with shrubs, finds a �ٺ��Ƶ study.

Overlooked Emissions in California’s Salton Sea Air Basin

Katherine E Kerlin — December 03, 2024 - 10:00am

Nitrogen oxide emissions from soil in California's Salton Sea air basin are 10 times larger than state estimates, finds �ٺ��Ƶ study of rural Imperial and Coachella valleys.