One Tam Science Summit: Is Mt. Tam in Peak Health?

From Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy:

Beautiful and distinctive Mt. Tam is one of the region’s greatest natural treasures. Located in an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot, the mountain’s complex terrain, and location between the sea and the inland Bay Area, creates a remarkably diverse array of climates and habitats. It is home to more than 1,200 native species, including over 10 percent of the native plants found in California—over 10 times more native plants per acre than Yosemite National Park, which is almost 20 times as big.

This fall, local scientists, resource specialists and ecologists from all four land-management agencies (California State Parks, Marin Municipal Water District, Marin County Parks, and the National Park Service), Parks Conservancy staff, will share their understanding of the state of key plants, animals, and other indicator species—as well as the condition of selected Mt. Tam ecosystems that support them—during a unprecedented gathering – the Mt. Tam Science Summit on October 28-29.

“What are we learning about the threatened, endangered, rare, or sensitive plant and animal species on Mt. Tam as a whole, and where are our critical collective data gaps? How is climate change and stressors such as invasive non-native plant species affecting the health of the mountain?” Aaron Roth, Acting General Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. “These were some of the questions considered by ornithologists, ecologists, wildlife biologists, plant scientists, geologists, and resource managers as they prepared the Measuring the Health of a Mountain: A Report on Mt. Tamalpais’ Natural Resources 2016 for the summit.”

“Each agency has considerable knowledge and experience managing environmental stressors that affect our natural lands, including the Sudden Oak Death pathogen that has decimated forests and woodlands and affects us all,” said Max Korten, Acting Director & General Manager, Marin County Parks. “But until we joined forces under One Tam, we had not taken steps to conduct a shared agency baseline assessment of Mt. Tam’s ecological health helping us to see the complete picture.”

Two workshops in February and March of 2016 brought together 60 local and agency scientists to discuss existing data and reports, information gaps and needs, and possible indicators that could be used to assess the health of the mountain’s natural resources. As with vital signs of human health, ecological indicators don’t tell the whole story, but they can be an easy way to spot early change and identify management strategies.
“Despite its ecological riches and its protected status, Mt. Tam is threatened by invasive species, forest pathogens, changed fire regimes, and climate change,” said Danita Rodriguez, District Superintendent, Marin/Diablo Vista Districts, and California State Parks. “The agencies that steward Mt Tam, and the community that loves it, all have a role to play in helping keep this place healthy and vibrant.”

The Science Summit is intended to share our best information on the health of Mt. Tam, and also how what we have learned fits within the contexts of land management and community involvement. Both days will cover a range of topics— from individual focal species that were selected as indicators of Mt. Tam’s ecological health, all the way up to entire ecological communities and some of the bigger issues facing the mountain like climate change and invasive species.

“At the symposium experts will address gaps in current knowledge and data—and offer suggestions for future research and restoration projects that will ensure the vitality of this beloved mountain,” said Mike Swezy, Watershed Manager, Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD).

“The summit is a key step in the ongoing process to chart the best and most thoughtful science-based path forward, for improving the future of Mt. Tam as a whole—and how we can build community support for the next phase of stewardship,” said Greg Moore, President & CEO of the Parks Conservancy.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock