John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Half a year ago, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma) implemented pile burns for the first time in its 50-year history. Nearly 200 piles of woody materials were created from clearing chaparral vegetation along the Westridge border, under the guidance of stewardship scientist Sheena Sidhu. In March 2024, these piles were burned by a fire crew led by burn boss Phil Dye.
The burn was part of the university's wildfire management plan and held additional significance for members of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh and other Tribal members participated on the first day, teaching about the ecological importance of reintroducing sacred fire to their ancestral lands. They also offered blessings and prayers in Chochenyo, grounding the event in Indigenous traditional wisdom.
Six months later, new growth is visible around the edges of burned piles at Jasper Ridge. While some plants like yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), pitcher sage (Lepechinia calycina), and bluewitch nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum) were already present before the fire, there has been an unexpected emergence of rare plants such as western bewildering bushmallow (Malacothamnus arcuatus var. arcuatus). This plant is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area and listed as "fairly threatened" by California Rare Plant Ranks.
Many new bushmallow plants are now growing vigorously around more than a dozen burned piles. The seeds likely remained dormant for decades due to fire suppression but have germinated following this controlled burn. A recent study found that seeds from an 88-year-old herbarium specimen could still germinate after exposure to fire.
The location where these plants grow suggests that while intense fires in pile centers may kill seeds, peripheral areas experience conditions conducive to seed survival and growth stimulation. This aligns with Indigenous burning practices used historically to encourage plant growth before European contact.
Michael Wilcox, a senior lecturer in Native American studies, suggests viewing this resurgence as an "awakening" rather than revitalization—a term often used when discussing cultural restoration among Indigenous groups. Despite historical challenges faced by Ohlone peoples and local native plants like western bewildering bushmallow due to environmental changes and fire suppression, both continue to persist.
This revival symbolizes renewed relationships between humans and local flora and fauna on shared land. As efforts toward federal recognition for Muwekma Ohlone Tribe progress with initiatives like Trail of Truth protest underway; broader awakenings within Native communities seem inevitable—bringing benefits not only locally but also regionally through sustainable practices informed by time-tested Indigenous wisdom.
The presence of bushmallows at pile burn sites highlights opportunities for collaboration between Western science approaches alongside traditional knowledge systems—promoting mutual respect through authentic two-eyed seeing research endeavors at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve moving forward into future projects involving education or stewardship activities together with Indigenous partners.
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