Along with a multidisciplinary team from the California Department of Fish and Game, we toured several of the Conservancy’s preserves with Professor Yukihiro Morimoto, Ph.D with the University of Kyoto in Japan. He is a professor of Landscape Ecology and Planning at this prestigious university, and specializes in mitigation habitat. It was especially great to exchange notes and ideas, compare how things are done in Japan versus how they are done here. One of the great aspects of why this visit was particularly helpful was the fact that Japan and Northern California both have rice production as a major component of our respective landscapes. Since the Conservancy is required to keep 50 percent of its land in rice production to benefit the giant garter snake, we had an especially rich conversation. (Also helpful was that in a previous job, I spent a lot of time in Japan, so was able to understand a lot of the concepts and environments Professor Morimoto referenced.) Part of the value of entertaining visits like this is getting a chance to see aspects of what we do a bit differently. This helps as a “thought-starter” and gets one thinking about different ways to address the challenges we face. Hope we get to do this again.
Rodent exterminator, no charge
Photo taken by Conservancy staff on a Conservancy preserve, 2024. It’s often difficult to view, but part of the Conservancy’s job is to see that wildlife has access to sustenance on the preserves. Here, a Snowy egret (Egretta thula) manages to nab a quick lunch on a Conservancy owned and …