Glossary

The outer edges of woodland, where the tree canopy becomes less dense and transitions into open areas such as meadows, chaparral, or grassland. These margins receive more sunlight and often support a diverse mix of shrubs, forbs, grasses, and young trees, making them ecologically rich ecotones (transitional zones).

In the Santa Cruz Mountains, woodland margins may occur where coast live oak or Douglas-fir forests meet grasslands, scrub, or riparian corridors.

Native plants commonly found in these zones include Coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica,  Poison Oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum, California Buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum, and Purple Needlegrass, Stipa pulchraWoodland margins are critical for wildlife movement, pollinator activity, and nesting habitat, offering both cover and access to open foraging grounds.

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