E1: Rethinking Protection of Plants, Animals, and ”Wild” Places in California with Jaymee Marty, PhD.

On this episode of All Land is Beautiful I’m joined by Dr. Jaymee Marty, a biologist based out of the Sacramento Valley, and one of the many insightful and hardworking individuals working to conserve and manage the land, its plants and wildlife throughout the northern California region. Jaymee is probably best known for publishing a study that scientifically confirmed that cattle grazing in vernal pools, which are seasonal wetlands that host a number of threatened and endangered plant and wildlife species, is not only beneficial but critical to the protection of biodiversity in these ecosystems. A concept that had long been understood within the ecological community, but had never actually been quantified. She continues her work with vernal pools conducting surveys for fairy shrimp and California tiger salamander on behalf of the United States Airforce, as well as a number of non-profit land trusts throughout the Central Valley region, and has picked up a number of other unique and interesting studies and work on other habitats and wildlife as well. We talk about a lot here. Jaymee’s roots and path to a career in biology and conservation, cattle grazing and its benefits throughout the northern California landscape, and some unique instances in which native wildlife persists in unlikely environments. Hope you enjoy.