Conservation &
Climate Adaptation Science

Working to ensure California's foundational trees survive climate change, through science and partnerships with people who steward the land.

News & Updates

Lab news · 2026

Graduate student Morgan Abbott's paper was just accepted by Ecosphere: California trees are already responding to climate change with declining recruitment and increasing mortality.

Figure from Abbott et al. showing climate responses of California tree species
Abbott et al. · click to enlarge
Aerial view of blue oak woodland at Strathearn Ranch
In the news · April 2026 · UCSC News

California's iconic trees are at far greater risk from climate change than official rankings show

A new study led by Blair McLaughlin finds that many of California's most recognizable trees could lose more than half of their suitable habitat by the end of the century — and documents the emergence of "zombie forests" where adult trees can no longer reproduce.

Read the press release → Read the paper → Listen on KAZU (1:43) →
In the news · 2015 · Los Angeles Times

California ranchers and researchers work to save drought-stressed oaks

The LA Times followed Blair McLaughlin into the field to document the collaboration between researchers and ranchers working to understand and protect California's blue oaks as drought intensifies across the state.

Read the full article →

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