Episode 051 - Rachel Henry
Show Notes
Rachel Henry is a fish and wildlife biologist in our office. One of her primary roles is working with private landowners to achieve California tiger salamander recovery in Santa Barbara County. The Santa Barbara County distinct population segment of the California tiger salamander is a federally endangered species.
The loss and destruction of habitat represents the primary threat to the California tiger salamander. A large portion of that habitat loss is attributed to the conversion of grazing land to agriculture lands. Santa Barbara County is ranked 13th in the state of California for overall agriculture production. Much of the area that is considered prime for agriculture production is the prime habitat for the California tiger salamander. At the crux of Rachel's work is the concept of balancing species conservation and ensuring landowners can utilize their lands. She understands that for a landowner, having a federally listed species occupy their property can feel like an impassable barrier. Rachel looks for ways to work around those barriers by applying U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs to the landowner's benefit: either through direct financial compensation, or programs that allow for continued use of the land while simultaneously furthering conservation of the species.
For a long time, Rachel grappled with how to get landowners to care about a tiny little salamander that lives much of its life hidden beneath earth's surface. One day while driving through California tiger salamander habitat in Santa Barbara County, Rachel had an epiphany: "Protecting the California tiger salamander isn't just about the species, it's so much more. It's about protecting the picturesque landscapes that come to mind when you think of California." Do you remember the Happy Cows come from California commercials? Those are the landscapes Rachel hopes to protect, because much like the cows, those lands also make California tiger salamanders happy. And while the average person might not think about those happy salamanders, we Californians look at those picturesque landscapes with those Happy Cows and feel fortunate to live in a place with such beauty. That is the beauty Rachel hopes will be the common thread between landowners and species conservation.
Connect with Rachel Henry
facebook.com/VenturaFWO
twitter.com/USFWSVentura
https://www.facebook.com/usfwspacificsouthwest/
https://twitter.com/USFWS_PSW
The loss and destruction of habitat represents the primary threat to the California tiger salamander. A large portion of that habitat loss is attributed to the conversion of grazing land to agriculture lands. Santa Barbara County is ranked 13th in the state of California for overall agriculture production. Much of the area that is considered prime for agriculture production is the prime habitat for the California tiger salamander. At the crux of Rachel's work is the concept of balancing species conservation and ensuring landowners can utilize their lands. She understands that for a landowner, having a federally listed species occupy their property can feel like an impassable barrier. Rachel looks for ways to work around those barriers by applying U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs to the landowner's benefit: either through direct financial compensation, or programs that allow for continued use of the land while simultaneously furthering conservation of the species.
For a long time, Rachel grappled with how to get landowners to care about a tiny little salamander that lives much of its life hidden beneath earth's surface. One day while driving through California tiger salamander habitat in Santa Barbara County, Rachel had an epiphany: "Protecting the California tiger salamander isn't just about the species, it's so much more. It's about protecting the picturesque landscapes that come to mind when you think of California." Do you remember the Happy Cows come from California commercials? Those are the landscapes Rachel hopes to protect, because much like the cows, those lands also make California tiger salamanders happy. And while the average person might not think about those happy salamanders, we Californians look at those picturesque landscapes with those Happy Cows and feel fortunate to live in a place with such beauty. That is the beauty Rachel hopes will be the common thread between landowners and species conservation.
Connect with Rachel Henry
facebook.com/VenturaFWO
twitter.com/USFWSVentura
https://www.facebook.com/usfwspacificsouthwest/
https://twitter.com/USFWS_PSW