Oaks

General Info

“Re-Oaking” is an approach to reintegrating oaks and other native vegetation within the developed California landscape to restore this ecologically diverse and distinctive ecosystem to our cities (SFEI.org). Through Re-Oak the Valley efforts, Napa RCD has been working with local land owners and land managers to assist with acorn planting on their own properties.

Oaks are a big part of Napa’s heritage and identity. Our goal is to protect this legacy for future generations by helping ensure that new seedlings get established in areas that have been deforested (sometimes over a hundred years ago). Thanks in large part to eager landowners, opportunities for re-oaking abound.

Napa County’s native oak trees, particularly the Valley oak (Quercus lobata) species, are considered “keystone species”, meaning that when these trees are present, they have an ecological ripple effect that positively benefits many other native plants and wildlife.

Native oak trees provide significant ecosystem services including: erosion protection through canopies and roots, soil building through shed leaves, food for wildlife through acorns, and cumulative carbon sequestration in stems and roots.

Napa RCD has successfully initiated Re-oaking projects on properties such as vineyards, parks and open space areas, residential, municipal, and school sites.