Berkeley Colloquia in History of Science and Technology - Fall 2008
Sponsored by the Office for History of Science and Technology (UC Berkeley)
Peter Alagona
Stanford University
University of California, Santa Barbara
Homes on the Range: A History of Science and Conservation in California's Hardwood Rangelands
This talk explores the history of California's hardwood rangelands, from the ecological transformations of the 19th century to the contemporary debate about the fate of oak trees on the UC Berkeley campus. The hardwood rangelands encompass a vast region of woodland, grassland, and chaparral vegetation, and include most of the state's native oaks. Unlike other semi-arid western landscapes, most of which exist on federal land, 80% of the hardwood rangelands occur on private property. Private ownership has resulted in a history different from other western rangelands, and it offers a unique opportunity for comparison. This talk will focus on the production of scientific knowledge, the relationships between research institutions and their patrons, the role of government agencies, and the history of countervailing management practices. The result has been a long-term quest for cooperation and adaptation in natural resource management. The story of California's hardwood rangelands challenges the traditional narratives about conflict and control that characterize so much of the historical literature on environmental science and conservation in the North American West.
4:00PM
Monday, October 6, 2008
279 Dwinelle Hall
UC Berkeley
Office for History of Science and Technology, 543 Stephens Hall #2350
University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2350
tel: (510) 642-4581, e-mail: ohst@berkeley.edu
