Oak woodland ranchers in California and Spain: conservation and diversification

Abstract

Data from surveys made it possible to compare properties in Caceres Province dehesa and Californian oak savanna to gain insights into how landowner and manager characteristics fit into emergent conservation initiatives. The prevalent institutions and ecological dynamics influence the kinds of conservation initiatives in the two sites under investigation. Spanish management and land use is more diverse, reflecting the vast difference in social and economic history between Spain and California. In California today, landowner interest in diversification is limited, but where there is a large amount of land in restricted title landowners seem to be more interested in diversified and specialized production. In California, oak woodlands are ecologically comparatively inert, but the human population dynamics are quite volatile. In Spain, the woodlands change rapidly without regular human intervention, but the distribution of the human population is comparatively stable. Emerging incentive-based conservation strategies reflect these differences: California programs focus on restricting development, while Spanish programs target agricultural practices and afforestation. Caceres and California owners and managers do share many similar attitudes toward the government and conservation programs. It appears that negotiations with woodland landowners and managers over conservation programs are about control over the operations, and about appropriate incentives. Ranchers and dehesa managers are willing to manage for different goals, employ new practices, and even surrender some components of title if the correct balance of control and incentives is offered.