MEMBER'S PAGE
Welcome, Fellow Chaparralian!
Thank you for becoming a member of the California Chaparral Institute. You are joining a wonderful group of people like you who love Nature, are inspired by it's wonders, and advocate for its protection, especially as it is reflected in California's most extensive ecosystem, the chaparral.
To expand your inspiration, please visit our Chaparral page to discover the different types of chaparral you can have fun exploring.
We hope to see you soon during one of our educational adventures and look forward to your continued support.
Richard Halsey
Director
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OUR CURRENT ISSUE #45 For the Love of Nature (2/2025): A collection of stories, philosophy, and poetry celebrating how Nature inspires.
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#44 The Legacy of Old-Growth Chaparral (12/2020): An exploration of one of California most priceless, and threatened, ecosystems, chaparral 50 years or older.
Below you'll find our archives of cited papers as well as the early days of THE CHAPARRALIAN. More recent issues can be found here. Enjoy.
Older Issues of THE CHAPARRALIAN
#29 The First Chaparralians (12/08): A Tribute to Parents. This was a special Christmas issue dedicated to the people who are responsible for who we are.
#28 Threats to the Chaparral (10/08): A complete discussion of how the chaparral is being threatened by fire, the fear of fire, and the exploitation of that fear. Also Part III of the Myth of Fire Suppression and memories of the 2017 Witch Creek Fire.
#27 Saline Valley (7/08): An interesting expedition into Saline Valley, the most desolate place in California, The Marshal South story, and a wonderful tale about the yucca moth and the yucca plant by Bill Howell.
Additional Issues of THE CHAPARRALIAN
#26 Ancient Manzanitas (5/08): An adventure to find the ancient manzanitas of Agua Tibia, USFS firefighters need your help, a re-discovered lichen that is only found in old-growth chaparral, Part II of the Myth of Fire Suppression, and Tom Chester: A True Chaparralian.
#25 The Myth of Fire Suppression (12/07): Includes part one of a three part story on how the science of fire suppression has been twisted to create a false "one-size-fits-all" land management policy. Also commentary on why the "fuel-centric" approach to fire risk reduction is dangerous.
#24 2007 Fire Update (10/07): This was a special edition email note sent out during the 2007 Firestorm in Southern California.
#23 The National Chaparral Recreation Plan (9/07): This issue contained our first proposal to change the way the four National Forests in Southern California are classified and managed. The proposal has now been revised. Details available on our Nat. Forest Plan page). Also included in this issue was the article, "Global Warming, Politics, and Science."
#22 Chaparral Wisdom (5/07): A special issue focusing on the value of nature, and a perspective on wildland firefighter training.
#21 The Cedar Fire (12/06): A preliminary report on a three year study. Also report on the Fire Ecology Congress held in San Diego by Jim Hart, more on Sierra Nevada forest fires, "With the Cedar fire Incident Commander" by Randy Lyle, and a new book announcement: The Hamster Revolution by Vicki Halsey, et al., a great story about how to manage email before it manages you!
#20 Desert Fires and Invasive Weeds (8/06): The 2006 Sawtooth fire (San Bernardino National Forest), the fire's impact on spreading invasive weeds, Richard D. Hawkins: a True Chaparralian, Forest fires in the western Sierra Nevada, a perspective on invasive weeds in Arizona, Fire in Pioneertown: a conversation with Jim Hart, introducing the Fire Square.
#19 The Sierra Fire (4/06): Its impact on the Tecate Cypress (Cleveland National Forest).
#18 Earthquake Suppression (2/06): A parody by Jim Hart, Soccer, and Ione chaparral part III.
#25 The Myth of Fire Suppression (12/07): Includes part one of a three part story on how the science of fire suppression has been twisted to create a false "one-size-fits-all" land management policy. Also commentary on why the "fuel-centric" approach to fire risk reduction is dangerous.
#24 2007 Fire Update (10/07): This was a special edition email note sent out during the 2007 Firestorm in Southern California.
#23 The National Chaparral Recreation Plan (9/07): This issue contained our first proposal to change the way the four National Forests in Southern California are classified and managed. The proposal has now been revised. Details available on our Nat. Forest Plan page). Also included in this issue was the article, "Global Warming, Politics, and Science."
#22 Chaparral Wisdom (5/07): A special issue focusing on the value of nature, and a perspective on wildland firefighter training.
#21 The Cedar Fire (12/06): A preliminary report on a three year study. Also report on the Fire Ecology Congress held in San Diego by Jim Hart, more on Sierra Nevada forest fires, "With the Cedar fire Incident Commander" by Randy Lyle, and a new book announcement: The Hamster Revolution by Vicki Halsey, et al., a great story about how to manage email before it manages you!
#20 Desert Fires and Invasive Weeds (8/06): The 2006 Sawtooth fire (San Bernardino National Forest), the fire's impact on spreading invasive weeds, Richard D. Hawkins: a True Chaparralian, Forest fires in the western Sierra Nevada, a perspective on invasive weeds in Arizona, Fire in Pioneertown: a conversation with Jim Hart, introducing the Fire Square.
#19 The Sierra Fire (4/06): Its impact on the Tecate Cypress (Cleveland National Forest).
#18 Earthquake Suppression (2/06): A parody by Jim Hart, Soccer, and Ione chaparral part III.
FIRE BULLETINS
#17 Wildland Fire Research and Ione Chaparral (12/05): Latest fire research from USGS, Ione chaparral part II, Soccer and chaparral.
#16 Foresters and Firefighters (11/05): Chaparral and the CDF, Ione chaparral part I, What to do after a fire.
#1 The First Chaparralian: For history's sake, we thought it might be interesting for you to see the very first issue of The Chaparralian...when it was a Fire Bulletin. Date: July 2, 2004. A lot has changed since then.
#16 Foresters and Firefighters (11/05): Chaparral and the CDF, Ione chaparral part I, What to do after a fire.
#1 The First Chaparralian: For history's sake, we thought it might be interesting for you to see the very first issue of The Chaparralian...when it was a Fire Bulletin. Date: July 2, 2004. A lot has changed since then.
Papers and Documents
Additional Publications by Richard Halsey
Halsey, R.W. 2023. Iconoclastic Thinkers in the Mountains: How Divergent Spirits Help Us Connect and Preserve Wildness in the Eastern Peninsular Range of Southern California. Volcan Mountain Symposium, April 14-15, 2023. Author's submission.
Halsey, R.W., V.W. Halsey, R. Gaudette. 2018. Connecting Californians with the Chaparral. In Valuing Chaparral, Economic, Socio-Economic, and Management Perspectives. Eds Underwood, E., H. Safford, N. Molinari, and J.E. Keeley. Springer International Publishing.
Halsey, R.W. and J.E. Keeley. 2016. Conservation issues: California chaparral. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier Publications, Inc.
Halsey, R.W. and A.D. Syphard. 2015. High-severity fire in chaparral: cognitive dissonance in the shrublands. In D. A. DellaSala and C.T. Hanson, The Ecological Importance of Mixed-Severity Fires: Nature's Phoenix. Elsevier Publications, Inc.
Gordon, L., R.W. Halsey, J.E. Keeley, J.P. Rebman, D. Wiens, A. Johanson. 2015. Mission manzanita, queen of the elfin forest: is the species in decline? Fremontia 43: 23-28.
Halsey, R.W. 2009. The Chaparral Habitat for Young Chaparralians (5th-8th grade). This is the stand alone version from issue #32 of The Chaparralian.
Halsey, R.W. 2004. In search of allelopathy: an eco-historical view of the investigation of chemical inhibition in California coastal sage scrub and chamise chaparral. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 131(4): 343-367.
San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative Curriculm Sample. Rancho Bernardo High Bio Materials (a brief return to the public school classroom in 2017). Cal Fire Lawsuit Writ of Mandate (1/28/2020) Opening brief (9/19/2023) Board of Forestry Opposition brief (10/17/2023) Our Response brief (10/27/2023) Tentative Ruling (11/8/2023) - permanent as of hearing on 11/9/2023 San Diego County Vegetation Management Lawsuit Materials
Writ of Mandate (6/9/09).
Opening brief.
SD County's response.
Our reply brief (1/8/10). For additional details, please see our SD County page. Other San Diego Related Documents San Diego County's letter on the draft California Fire Plan that denies chaparral can be type-converted as well as dismissing the importance of climate change on wildfire.
San Diego County's "point paper" in support of SB 1293, an attack on the California Environmental Quality Act.
Politically biased San Diego Union-Tribune Flyer (2012) Additional Papers of Interest W. Peter Iliff. 2011. Creative Rites - taking the job of writer director. Script Magazine 17: 50-54.
CNPS San Diego newsletter 2/2018 on the VTP
CNPS San Diego newsletter 8/2011 "Last of the Big Trees" by Tom Oberbauer
CNPS San Diego newsletter 12/2011 Response to Oberbauer's 8/2011 column by Richard Halsey
To Cut or Not to Cut - Santa Barbara Independent Palo Colorado Fuel Break - Big Sur "Flesh-colored threads" Top 20 Fires in California Tyler and Borchert on Geophytes 2008 Silva et al. 2018. Tobacco industry misappropriation of American Indian culture and traditional tobacco. 27:e57–e64. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053950 The Leopold Report. 1963. Appeal to the Ninth Circuit on the USFS project to clear/log habitat on Reyes Peak, Los Padres National Forest, 12/22/2023. Interesting research that reveals the most significant damage being done to the redwoods burned in the 2020 wildfires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties was not the fire, but the post-fire "management" activities of humans: Mahdizadeh and Russell. 2021. Initial floristic response to high severity wildfire in an old-growth coast redwood forest. Comment Letters Letter to the California Coastal Commission on San Mateo/Santa Cruz Counties habitat clearance plans, July, 2021 Letter to California State Assembly opposing SB 456, July 2021 Otay Ranch Village 13 development letter, May 2015 Letter to the Pacific Crest Trail Association about John Muir, July 24, 2021
Halsey, R.W. and J.E. Keeley. 2016. Conservation issues: California chaparral. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier Publications, Inc.
Halsey, R.W. and A.D. Syphard. 2015. High-severity fire in chaparral: cognitive dissonance in the shrublands. In D. A. DellaSala and C.T. Hanson, The Ecological Importance of Mixed-Severity Fires: Nature's Phoenix. Elsevier Publications, Inc.
Gordon, L., R.W. Halsey, J.E. Keeley, J.P. Rebman, D. Wiens, A. Johanson. 2015. Mission manzanita, queen of the elfin forest: is the species in decline? Fremontia 43: 23-28.
Halsey, R.W. 2009. The Chaparral Habitat for Young Chaparralians (5th-8th grade). This is the stand alone version from issue #32 of The Chaparralian.
Halsey, R.W. 2004. In search of allelopathy: an eco-historical view of the investigation of chemical inhibition in California coastal sage scrub and chamise chaparral. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 131(4): 343-367.
San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative Curriculm Sample. Rancho Bernardo High Bio Materials (a brief return to the public school classroom in 2017). Cal Fire Lawsuit Writ of Mandate (1/28/2020) Opening brief (9/19/2023) Board of Forestry Opposition brief (10/17/2023) Our Response brief (10/27/2023) Tentative Ruling (11/8/2023) - permanent as of hearing on 11/9/2023 San Diego County Vegetation Management Lawsuit Materials
Writ of Mandate (6/9/09).
Opening brief.
SD County's response.
Our reply brief (1/8/10). For additional details, please see our SD County page. Other San Diego Related Documents San Diego County's letter on the draft California Fire Plan that denies chaparral can be type-converted as well as dismissing the importance of climate change on wildfire.
San Diego County's "point paper" in support of SB 1293, an attack on the California Environmental Quality Act.
Politically biased San Diego Union-Tribune Flyer (2012) Additional Papers of Interest W. Peter Iliff. 2011. Creative Rites - taking the job of writer director. Script Magazine 17: 50-54.
CNPS San Diego newsletter 2/2018 on the VTP
CNPS San Diego newsletter 8/2011 "Last of the Big Trees" by Tom Oberbauer
CNPS San Diego newsletter 12/2011 Response to Oberbauer's 8/2011 column by Richard Halsey
To Cut or Not to Cut - Santa Barbara Independent Palo Colorado Fuel Break - Big Sur "Flesh-colored threads" Top 20 Fires in California Tyler and Borchert on Geophytes 2008 Silva et al. 2018. Tobacco industry misappropriation of American Indian culture and traditional tobacco. 27:e57–e64. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053950 The Leopold Report. 1963. Appeal to the Ninth Circuit on the USFS project to clear/log habitat on Reyes Peak, Los Padres National Forest, 12/22/2023. Interesting research that reveals the most significant damage being done to the redwoods burned in the 2020 wildfires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties was not the fire, but the post-fire "management" activities of humans: Mahdizadeh and Russell. 2021. Initial floristic response to high severity wildfire in an old-growth coast redwood forest. Comment Letters Letter to the California Coastal Commission on San Mateo/Santa Cruz Counties habitat clearance plans, July, 2021 Letter to California State Assembly opposing SB 456, July 2021 Otay Ranch Village 13 development letter, May 2015 Letter to the Pacific Crest Trail Association about John Muir, July 24, 2021
