California Chaparral: The Most Underrated Biome

[@HoltHanley]

I had always thought prescribed fire was good for the chaparral… thanks for evolving my perspective.

[@jack4theplanet]

Yeah, we hear so much about prescribed fire being a good thing (because it is good in other ecosystems/biomes), but in chaparral, it is often used as a way to destroy nature instead of help it.

[@JimChialtas]

Fantastic job advocating for and explaining a little bit about our beloved chaparral ecosystem! Thank you Rick and the Chaparral Institute for your continued efforts to speak for our wild lands, and thank you Jack for representing the new generation of Chaparral Eco Warriors and advocates! You are so appreciated.

[@OhmVibe]

I grew up and have lived in and around this biome my whole life, and am just now coming to respect its unique beauty.

[@crystalhao7577]

any tips on how you survived pls we are desperate 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@dsewell]

I think more adults would appreciate the chaparral if they had grown up exploring it when they were small enough to weave under and through the brush, and patient enough not to care if it took a long time to get from point A to B. I remember my mother once saying she could always tell when my brother and I had been pathfinding in the chaparral because she'd smell the sage on us the minute we opened the door.

[@Yo_Moms_Boyfriend]

You guys make a great point that more people should be aware of, “It doesn’t need a purpose to humans to be important” NATURE IS NATURE!!!! I cannot believe someone would feel the need to burn something like this just for the looks ESPECIALLY in California. Are you crazy???

[@henrynowakowski]

The coolest thing about Chaparrel is how it comes back after a fire. Go to Santiago Oaks Reg Park in Orange sometime. A fire swept through there completely dessimating this park just a few years ago. Go there now and you can hardly tell there was a fire at all except for some of the large trees which are still black. All the chaparrel came back and looks great. We noticed the same thing in Yellowstone Nat'l Park. There was a gigantic fire that burned about 1,000,000 acres. Two summers later, we visited Yellowstone and noticed the new trees rising from the ashes. The chaparral and other native bushes were already 2-3 ft tall and wild grasses were everywhere. Fire doesn't destroy native plants, it transforms them into new plants which are hardier and stronger.

[@jimmyh2226]

Yes, Yellowstone. A number of officials' careers were ruined after that fire. The public blamed them for it all... typical of the myopic, catastrophizing mentality of small thinkers.

[@raeorion]

I love this 🥰 I grew up in Redding and my Dad lives in the mountains outside there. My grandpa and his family grew up around Modoc. I love this biome and it's deep in my heart. Growing up watching the frogs, quail, and squirrel, I have always wanted to be a scientist and help protect habitat. Instead I get my education from KZbin and help out with activism and organizing when I can, but it's something!

[@jack4theplanet]

Thanks for the support! While I live on the complete other side of the state (San Diego), I have similar experiences exploring chaparral ecosystems. It is truly wonderful, and I try to get out and enjoy it as much as possible.

[@crystalhao7577]

@raeorion Hi we are doing a geography assessment and we would love to know more about your experience living and growing up in the chaparral biome. please get back to me i need to pass. ps. we are australian

[@raeorion]

@@crystalhao7577 that sounds really interesting, who is the "we" doing this survey?

[@thechaparralians2087]

It is an honor to be able to work with you on this, Jack. Your passion and selfless desire to make the world a better place are inspiring. Thank you.

[@jack4theplanet]

Thank you! I couldn’t have done it without your knowledge!

[@donrideout5537]

Well done Jack 4 the Planet! Give us more!

[@localtavernsluteplayer2182]

I think chaparral looks way better when you're on the trails rather than from the freeway, that's probably why people usually underestimate it

[@jimmyh2226]

This is outstanding! There are so many misconceptions about chaparral (especially concerning fire), it is difficult to find a video that is based on the facts and celebrates the ecosystem's value. Thanks Jack 4 the Planet! Your passion and enthusiasm are infectious.

[@jack4theplanet]

Thanks!

[@dankenk]

It is so fascinating at the California grizzly bear loved the chaparral. so different from the Alaskan grizzly Bear.

[@GhostScout42]

What a great video. Thanks for the info!

[@GeorgianaKBirch]

love the Chaparral! Good work Jack. Thank you.

[@susanfoy4794]

Interesting presentation. Thank you, Jack4thePlanet.

[@vickihalsey4277]

What a powerful message about our state’s most beautiful biome. Thanks for the great insights and for your dedication to saving chaparral and educating us about our world. The spade foot toad and wren tit - Soo precious. 💚

[@jack4theplanet]

Thanks for watching! I’ve been working on this for a long time because I wanted to get it right, so I’m glad you like it.

[@tomg.542]

There are some plants- bulbs that produce annual flowers that only sprout after a fire. Some other seeds need fire to open up. These beautiful flowers are often reported in the media after a major fire sweeps through an area, showcasing the resilience of nature. I am under the impression that these plants are often located within the chaparral and this may be the reason that people think the landscape "needs fire". Good video!

[@jimmyh2226]

Excellent point, Tom. And you are correct about the annual wildflowers. All of them have seeds that are either enhanced by the chemicals in smoke or charred wood to germinate, or actually require that cue to germinate (like whispering bells - Emmenanthe penduliflora). But as Rick mentioned, their seeds are perfectly fine for a century or more to lie dormant in the soil until the next fire, which will eventually arrive without our help.

[@crystalhao7577]

can you eat them???

[@pamelasmyth6800]

Thank you both for this wonderful video, Jack and Richard. I appreciate this so much right now as friends and neighbors of Live Oak Canyon in southeast Redlands once again speak out against development in the heart of this precious brushland and natural habitat. I could only hope that city planners and council members would watch this and learn, but many do not care to "understand the natural environment" or to appreciate "the sense of place." Yes, they all need to "go out and see the thing" and see this area through these lens.

[@jack4theplanet]

Thanks! I totally agree that if the people in charge understood the importance of natural areas, the world would be a lot better.

[@dankenk]

Such an important video! I live in Israel with a similar climates and relatively similar vegetation of chaparral, and people either calling it a desert or calling it forest 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ and usually don’t care about it. From what I see people usually care about forests and knows about deserts, but no one knows to appreciate and identify the chaparral. Thank you very sweet for giving a bit from your knowledge. Such an important video.

[@tarnopol]

Maybe you guys can reclassify Palestinians as chaparral and thus treat them better.

[@Aabicus]

Great video! Chaparral is such a unique biome, its awesome to see you and Rick doing your part to educate people about Southern California's most unique ecosystem

[@jack4theplanet]

Thanks!

[@daggius]

Good job brutha

[@beccadumonde]

THIS VIDEO IS SO AWESOME. The Chaparral is home.

[@crystalhao7577]

do you live there if so please leave us tips and descritions on how you survive there. pls this is for a geo assesment 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@devdeuce93]

Nice work. Much love from Riverside!

[@lewisnicolls7933]

Thanks for doing this video.

[@user-pm4qe4zq6n]

I disagree with him saying that chaparral takes 30 years to recover,the brush around my home was burned 10 years ago and now it’s 25 foot tall…..

[@luispq7469]

The information is really great, I want to criticize this constructive, I think that placing some shots from the park with the voice-over of the explanation by moments or to illustrate the ideas and facts you talk about

[@brunoaugusto3313]

:0

[@slatvatfatcat]

Is that opening scenery around you in Manchester Preserve?

[@jack4theplanet]

The parts of the video with Rick and I speaking to the camera were filmed in Manchester Preserve, but the additional footage in the opening parts was from the Lake Hodges and Elfin Forest areas.

[@jack4theplanet]

And the photo in the thumbnail is from Cleveland National Forest.