Science & Stewardship is a central part of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy's mission to encourage the highest quality stewardship of the permanently protected Irvine Ranch wildlands and parks. Our goal is to work energetically and collaboratively with partners, colleagues and public agencies so that together, we may apply the best science and practices to long-term adaptive management of the land.



Information regarding activities, events, research findings and all aspects concerning conservation issues will be reported and posted in this section of our website. Visit the site often to check for updates and new information. Our long-range goal for the website is to be a comprehensive and up-to-date resource focusing on the critical role that science plays in the understanding and appreciation of habitats, ecosystems, and all conservation issues and strategies that contribute to higher standards of stewardship on The Irvine Ranch wildlands and parks.



Overview
The vision of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy is to protect the natural resources of the permanently protected Irvine Ranch wildlands and parks, while encouraging people to connect with the land in appropriate ways. To implement this vision, the Science and Stewardship team will work with owners and partners to implement an innovative program that is firmly grounded in science for long-term adaptive management for the 50,000 acre (202 km² or 78 mi²) open space and wildlands. Together we will develop and implement a shared vision, an effective long-term adaptive management process, and strategic resource management plans. We also expect to coordinate annual work plans, budgets, biological monitoring results, data, decision-making, and activities.

The Science & Stewardship Program intends to build directly on the science-based approaches that have been applied to management of the land to date. We will draw from existing scientific knowledge, syntheses of regional experiences and management strategies, targeted field research, and common sense to guide our contribution.



Adaptive Management - The Irvine Ranch Conservancy is committed to long-term, science-based resource stewardship. We believe that success is best achieved over time through systematically testing assumptions and incorporating lessons learned into transparent, adaptive, science-based decision-making frameworks and acting on them in a timely fashion. We also believe that evaluating and applying management at the scale of whole ecosystems is essential to ensure the long-term persistence of species, habitats, and natural processes.



Innovation - Through on-going collaboration we will consider, test and evaluate innovative approaches to ecosystem management and the restoration of species and habitats across whole landscapes. Our work will be informed by knowledge and practices of conservation and management that have been applied on The Irvine Ranch, from the four other Mediterranean-climate ecoregions (Mediterranean, Kwongan of Australia, Fynbos of South Africa and Matorral of Chile) and from elsewhere in California. We have tremendous respect for the work of our colleagues locally and worldwide, and intend to let their experience help guide our programs and practices.



Human Dimensions - Central to our purpose is finding and effectively managing the dynamic balance between the needs of species and habitats and the interests and aspirations of people who wish to experience the extraordinary nature of Southern California. We believe strongly that, over the long term, in this highly urbanized region with enormous pressure on open spaces, people and communities will only support and protect places that are meaningful to them. It is therefore essential to the survival of these natural resources that people connect to them in ways that are both fulfilling and do not degrade them over time. This is one of the greatest challenges of adaptive management, but the Irvine Ranch Conservancy is committed to managing this balance.



Principles
The Irvine Ranch Conservancy and its Science and Stewardship Program operate with the following principles, which we believe are shared among our stewardship partners:

• Conservation Biology - Four fundamental goals of conservation biology guide our evaluation, decisions and actions: (1) ensure that the full range of species and habitats has adequate representation; (2) maintain viable populations of species; (3) sustain key ecological processes; and (4) ensure resilience to disturbance and long-term change (Noss & Cooperrider 1994).
• Excellence - We expect the highest quality outcomes in all that we do, and encourage the same from our partners and colleagues.
• Experience - There is no substitute for time in the field, years of observation, and natural history to guide discussions, decisions and action. Familiarity and respect for the knowledge gained and work accomplished on the land to date enhances our ability to add value.
• Objectivity - Impartiality and transparency are essential to science-based management and to facilitate decision-making and sharing of information and experience.
• Creativity - Innovation, nimbleness and decisiveness will serve us well in managing ecosystems over the long term.
• Practicality - We seek to apply the Precautionary Principle in our work, but are not daunted by uncertainty or unpredictability.
• Collaboration - Teamwork, whether by individuals working on projects or among organizations and agencies, will enable us to more rapidly and effectively achieve our goals.
• Respect - Respect enables us to debate challenging issues without threatening our relationships or compromising the strength of collaboration.
• Support - The commitment, empowerment, responsibility and accountability of individuals are the backbone of conservation success.