Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
Delicious
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon
Posts Tagged: land use
Exploring the complexities of cannabis farming in rural areas
Land use change in agricultural frontiers can have far-reaching social and environmental implications, such as habitat loss, water contamination, or worker demographic shifts — particularly when it involves the rapid expansion of a new industry such as cannabis production. A recent study published in Landscape and Urban Planning offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the drivers of cannabis production in rural areas, using interviews with farmers and spatial modeling to uncover key factors.
Led by researchers from UC Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) and the Cannabis Research Center, the article “Where money grows on trees: a socio-ecological assessment of land use change in an agricultural frontier” provides a social-ecological systems approach for assessing drivers of cannabis production in Southern Oregon, using interviews with farmers and spatial modeling to uncover key factors.
"Unlike other crops, we have less understanding of where and how cannabis is grown, making it an important area of ongoing research," said Van Butsic, a professor of cooperative extension in ESPM and the senior author of the study.
The researchers interviewed 14 cannabis farmers to identify major themes around their relationships with land use, and used those themes to generate predictors for models of land use change. Most of the interview-derived drivers were significantly associated with cannabis distribution and development, including parcel size, human footprint, distance to the nearest cannabis farm, the density of local cannabis production, clearable land cover, farm zoning, elevation, roughness, and distance to rivers. The interview data also provided insights into the relationship of cannabis with social and environmental dynamics.
“We gained many insights from the interview data,” said lead author and ESPM postdoctoral scholar Phoebe Parker-Shames. “For example, we knew from previous research that cannabis development tends to be clustered, but we understand a little better now that this is related to the ways in which cannabis farmers rely on each other to share knowledge, labor, and navigate uncertainty during difficult policy changes.”
One of the major themes that emerged from the interview data was the environmental stewardship values of the farmers. “There is a large untapped potential for education and management outreach to target farmers who got into this industry in part because of their ability to connect with the land,” Parker-Shames said. “The farmers we spoke to had a genuine desire to learn best practices in an industry without a lot of formal standards for production. I'm grateful that they were willing to share their experiences and insights with us.”
Additional Berkeley co-authors include ESPM professor Justin Brashares and alumni Hekia Bodwitch (PhD '17 ESPM). The study's findings provide valuable insights into the drivers of cannabis production and the environmental stewardship values of cannabis farmers, which can inform environmental policy, regulation, and best practices for sustainable cannabis production.
Dogging the Dogface Butterfly
They dogged the dogface butterfly. In celebrating the California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice, visitors at the Bohart Museum of...
Bohart associate Greg Kareofelas talks about the history of the California dogface butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Professor Fran Keller of Folsom Lake College reads her children’s book, “The Story of the Dogface Butterfly,” available in the gift Shop. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis students Kaitai Liu and Sol Wantz check out the Bohart’s live petting zoo, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches, and stick insects. Wantz is the incoming president of the UC Davis Entomology Club. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis students Danielle Sion and Amberly Hackmann staff the felt dogface butterfly table.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bohart Museum lab assistant Brennen Dyer (in back, center) staffs the Bohart Museum gift shop. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Lynn Kimsey (right) director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology and Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator, cut one of the two specially made cakes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Guests enjoyed the specially made cakes featuring a male dogface butterfly (shown) and a female dogface butterfly. They were the work of Tiffany Warrick of CreaTions N' EvenTs, Sacramento. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bohart Open House: Celebrating the California Dogface Butterfly
What's the story behind how and why the California dogface butterfly was designated as the state insect 50 years ago? That story will be among...
The egg of the California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
The caterpillar or larva of the California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
The chrysalis of the California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
An adult male California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
The Land of Z (Zerene) and The Land of B (Bohart)
Friday, June 10 proved to be a great day in "The Land of Z," and Saturday, July 16 promises to be a great day in the "Land of B." The Land of Z?...
And the tour of the California dogface butterfly habitat begins. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Tabatha Yang and Steve Heydon of the Bohart crew photograph California dogface butterflies. In back is Bohart associate Greg Kareofelas. "Males fly a beat, often coming down a canyon, then turning around and going back up again, and repeating," says UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro. "Both sexes routinely fly 15-20 feet off the ground.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bohart lab assistant Brennen Dyer with a California dogface butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Bohart crew on the Auburn field trip included (from left) Professor Fran Keller of Folsom Lake College, a Bohart scientist; senior museum scientist Steve Heydon; Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator; Greg Kareofelas, Bohart associate and a PLT volunteer guide; and Bohart lab assistant Brennen Dyer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Golden Year for the California Dogface Butterfly, But Questions Remain
If insects could celebrate, the California dogface butterfly would be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its designation as the California...
Greg Karefelas (left), an associate at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, shares his expertise of the California dogface butterfly with Rob Stewart of the TV program, "Rob on the Road."
