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<P>Rob (Smithsonian) is a co-author of the "<FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Catalogue of New World Grasses</SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT color=#000000>."</FONT> </FONT></FONT>LEM</FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Larry Morse</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Washington, D.C.</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:larry.morse.dc@earthlink.net">larry.morse.dc@earthlink.net</A></DIV>
<DIV>(<A href="mailto:Larry.E.Morse@LEM-Natural-Diversity.com">Larry.E.Morse@LEM-Natural-Diversity.com</A>)</DIV>
<DIV>(202)-543-2488</DIV>
<DIV>< <A href="http://www.lem-natural-diversity.com/">http://www.lem-natural-diversity.com/</A> ></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=SORENGR@si.edu href="mailto:SORENGR@si.edu">Soreng, Robert</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 11/1/2007 6:48:11 PM </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: RE: Reduce Western fires -- replant the native understory!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For more on California grasslands see the recently published:</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Stromberg, M.R., J.D. Corbin, and C.M. D’Antonio 2007. Ecology and management of California grasslands. University of California Press, Berkeley. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">There, in chapter 2, the San Diego area is classified within Valley/South Coastal Grassland, and the map provided shows the San Diego portion as almost entirely urban today.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Regarding the grasses:</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Among the major native grasses are the perennials: Nassella puchra, N. cernua, Aristida hamulosa, Elymus glaucus, Koeleria pyramidata (as K. cristata), Melica species, and Poa secunda. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">However, these species have mostly been replaced by Mediterranean annual grasses, species of Bromus, Hordeum, Avena, Brachypodium, Cynosurus, Taeniatherum, etc.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">These annuals, in a year with good moisture, provide a lot of fuel for fires.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Good luck restoring the native perennials. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Rob</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Robert J. Soreng, Research Associate</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Botany, NHB MRC-166</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">National Museum of Natural History</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Smithsonian Institution</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN lang=ES style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Washington, DC USA 20013-7012</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN lang=ES style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="mailto:sorengr@si.edu"><SPAN lang=ES>sorengr@si.edu</SPAN></A></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN lang=ES style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, 202-633-0981, 202-786-2563 (fax)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN lang=ES style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Catalogue of New World Grasses</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/nwgc.html">http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/nwgc.html</A></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Larry Morse [mailto:larry.morse.dc@earthlink.net] <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:03 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Alan Whittemore; Ann Johnson; Chris Lea; Diana Morse; Doug Ripley; Jamie Whitacre; Jane Gorbaty; Jennifer Swenson; John Kartesz; John Randall; Kimberly Tyler; Liz Benjamin; Mary Pfaffko; Peterson, Paul; Peter Whitney; Rhonda Stewart; Rod Simmons; Sally Claggett; Sherry Adams; Soreng, Robert<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> FW: RE: Reduce Western fires -- replant the native understory!</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">And the debate is on! [Bold added LEM]</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Larry<BR><BR>Larry Morse<BR>Washington, D.C.<BR>larry.morse.dc@earthlink.net<BR>(Larry.E.Morse@LEM-Natural-Diversity.com)<BR>(202)-543-2488<BR>< http://www.lem-natural-diversity.com/ ><BR><BR><BR>> [Original Message]<BR>> From: Richard Halsey <rwh@californiachaparral.org><BR>> To: Craig Dremann <craig@astreet.com>; <larry.morse.dc@earthlink.net><BR>> Cc: PCA Native Plants List <native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org>; NS Botany List <botany@lists.natureserve.org>; NS Ecology List <ecology@lists.natureserve.org>; <cnpssd-l@ucsd.edu><BR>> Date: 11/1/2007 4:54:55 PM<BR>> Subject: RE: Reduce Western fires -- replant the native understory!<BR>><BR>> I don't know how to respond to this other than to say <STRONG><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">there is no basis in</FONT></B></STRONG><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><BR><STRONG><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">> fact for what you are saying.</FONT></B></STRONG></SPAN></B> First of all, chaparral systems do NOT have a<BR>> grass understory and there has never been evidence for one. Secondly ,<BR>> <STRONG><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">chaparral canopy cover typically becomes 100% within 10-20</FONT></B></STRONG> years post fire.<BR>> There has never been any evidence to the contrary.<BR>><BR>> Could you offer any papers or research that would support any of the claims<BR>> you are making?<BR>><BR>> Rick Halsey<BR>><BR>> The California Chaparral Institute<BR>> ...the voice of the chaparral<BR>> www.californiachaparral.org<BR>> <BR>> P.O. Box 545<BR>> Escondido, CA 92033<BR>> 760-822-0029<BR>> *******************************************************************<BR>><BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: Craig Dremann [mailto:craig@astreet.com] <BR>> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 1:02 PM<BR>> To: larry.morse.dc@earthlink.net<BR>> Cc: PCA Native Plants List; NS Botany List; NS Ecology List;<BR>> rwh@californiachaparral.org<BR>> Subject: Reduce Western fires -- replant the native understory!<BR>><BR>> Dear Lar ry and All,<BR>><BR>> Thanks for your note on the southern California fires. <BR>><BR>> The removal of the perennial native grasses in southern California,<BR>> starting in 1769, has greatly increased the densities of the shrubs in<BR>> the "chaparral" areas, so that they are able to carry fire better. <BR>><BR>> This is an issue that I haven't seen discussed yet, about the fires. <BR>><BR>> Originally the Southern California coastal "chaparral" ecosystem was<BR>> only about a 30-40% shrub cover. The other 60-70% of the ecosystem were<BR>> low-growing (about 6"-15" tall) perennial grasses and perennial<BR>> herbaceous plants between the shrubs, that stayed green all year long,<BR>> and were very fire-resistant.<BR>><BR>> You can see a photo of California's originally most widespread native<BR>> grasses, the Purple Needlegrass, "Stipa" or Nassella pulchra, that is<BR>> also pictured on the Californi a flag below the Grizzly Bear, at<BR>> http://www.ecoseeds.com/stipa.1.JPG<BR>><BR>> Unfortunately the 100-200 years of grazing in California, has almost<BR>> completely removed the 100 species of native grasses and hundreds of<BR>> species of herbaceous native perennials that formerly grew, as our<BR>> understory below 3,000 ft. elevation.<BR>><BR>> Removal of the native understory helped to greatly increase fire danger,<BR>> since in most places, either annual exotic grasses filled in those<BR>> spaces, or the flammable shrubs have grown together as a solid mass.<BR>><BR>> You can see Dr. Humphrey's photos of the conversion within less than 100<BR>> years, of perennial native western grasslands to shrublands at<BR>> http://www.ecoseeds.com/desertgrass.html <BR>><BR>> A good place to start, might be a Native Vegetation Understory Inventory<BR>> every 10 years, to see what we have left of our perennial native<BR>> underst ory. <BR>><BR>> You can see the beginnings of an inventory for 1997, a measuring of the<BR>> native understory that is left of several of the Western states, at<BR>> http://www.ecoseeds.com/megatransect.html<BR>><BR>> As long as our lands in the Western States are missing their original<BR>> native understory, that land is extremely vulnerable to both weed<BR>> infestations and abnormal fires.<BR>><BR>> Sincerely, Craig Dremann, Redwood City, CA (650) 325-7333</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>