Environment

Design for the Delta: Students Propose Ideas for Floodplain Restoration

At the historic gambling hall named Dai Loy – which translates to "big welcome" – UC Davis landscape architecture students received just that, as they explored the rich history of Locke, a quaint town in the Delta. The landmark was one of the stops on a field trip that immersed students in the community's past, inspiring ideas for future improvements in the region that could benefit the town.

  

 

 

Dining Out with San Francisco’s Coyotes

As their traditional dining options dwindle and natural areas give way to restaurants, homes and sidewalks, the coyotes of San Francisco are shifting what they eat.

Scientists from the University of California, Davis, wanted to understand what San Francisco’s coyotes are eating, and how their diet is changed and shaped by the city’s landscape, which can vary from block to block.

States Struggle to Curb Food Waste Despite Policies

The United States generates more food waste than all but two countries. To address this, the federal government set a goal to cut food waste in half by 2030 compared to 2016 levels, to about 164 pounds per person annually. But a new study published in Nature Food and led by University of California, Davis, reveals that current state policies are falling short. Since 2016, per capita food waste has increased instead of decreasing.

A Graduate’s Journey to Impactful Public Service

 

Erin Rodriguez, a graduate of the UC Davis Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) program, joined with a clear goal: to deepen her understanding of the science that shapes impactful policy decisions. Today, as director of governmental affairs at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), she’s applying that knowledge to develop policies that benefit California communities.

Carnivorous Squirrels Documented in California

A ground squirrel with cheeks stuffed with nuts, seeds or grains, is a common sight. But a new study provides the first evidence that California ground squirrels also hunt, kill and eat voles. The study, led by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of California, Davis, is the first to chronicle widespread carnivorous behavior among squirrels.

The High Cost of Carbon

The social cost of carbon — an important figure that global policymakers use to analyze the benefits of climate and energy policies — is too low, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis.

Shrubs Can Help or Hinder a Forest’s Recovery After Wildfire

New research from the University of California, Davis, is shedding light on when and where to plant tree seedlings to help restore forests after high-severity wildfires, and it has a lot to do with shrubs. 

In hotter, drier areas where natural regeneration is weaker, well-timed tree planting can boost recovery by up to 200%, but the outcome also depends on competition with shrubs, a paper in the journal Forest Ecology and Management concludes.