Sedgwick Reserve Infrastructure Development

该奖项为改善塞奇威克保护区的基础设施提供了部分支持，塞奇威克保护区是加州大学自然保护区系统(NRS)中最大的保护区之一。这些改进将扩大储备金进行研究和教育的能力，并允许扩大研究人员和学生的过夜住宿。保护区位于圣巴巴拉西北部的圣拉斐尔山脉，任何高等院校、学校或科学组织的研究人员、教师和学生都可以使用该保护区作为研究地点和户外教室。目前的研究包括调节橡树更新的因素，加州生态系统中本地多年生和入侵一年生草本植物之间的相互作用，以及微生物群落多样性、组成和功能之间的联系的调查。现有的设施由旧的牧场建筑组成。没有现代化的实验室设施，供过夜游客使用的设施非常有限。大学和保护区的工作人员在教职员工、研究人员、学生和当地社区的帮助下，最近完成了一项全面的总体规划，以升级保护区的核心设施，以支持世界级的环境研究、大学水平的教学和K-12环境教育。计划中的设施改善取决于通过该合同支持的道路和其他基本基础设施的改善。在像塞奇威克保护区这样的地点通过研究和教育获得的基本知识对于自然生态系统的保护和明智管理至关重要。公众对环境问题的认识和了解对成功地保护和管理环境也是至关重要的。这两个重要目的都将通过该奖项实现。

This award provides partial support for improvements in the basic physical infrastructure of the Sedgwick Reserve, one of the largest reserves in the University of California's Natural Reserve System (NRS). These improvements will expand the capacity of the Reserve for the conduct of research and education, and permit the expansion of overnight housing of researchers and students. Located in the San Rafael Mountains northwest of Santa Barbara, the Reserve is available to researchers, teachers and students from any institution of higher learning, school or scientific organization for use as a research site and outdoor classroom. Current research include studies of factors regulating oak regeneration, interactions among native perennial and invasive annual grasses in California ecosystems, and investigations of the linkage among microbial community diversity, composition, and function. Existing facilities consist of old ranch buildings. No modern laboratory facilities are available, and there are very limited facilities for overnight visitors. The University and Reserve staff, with the help of faculty, researchers, students, and the local community, have recently completed a comprehensive master plan for upgrading the Reserve's core facilities in order to support world-class environmental research, university-level instruction, and K-12 environmental education. The planned improvements in facilities are dependent on the improvements in roads and other basic infrastructure that are supported through this award. Basic knowledge gained through research and education at sites like Sedgwick Reserve is critical to the preservation and wise management of natural ecosystems. Public awareness and understanding of environmental issues are also essential for successful environmental conservation and management. Both these important purposes will be enabled by the award.