Oak Forests and Carbon (White Paper)

Manzanita Cooperative is proud to introduce our latest white paper, Native California Biodiversity-Centered Agroforestry for Productive Land-Use, Carbon Storage, and Sustainability. This work outlines a transformative vision for sustained vibrance of California’s oak woodlands, integrating biodiversity stewardship with sustainable agriculture.

By combining native oak acorns, legumes, grasses, cover crops, and other native-derived species in alley cropped systems, we present a framework for profitable land management that enhances soil carbon sequestration, conserves biodiversity, and supports sustainable food systems while strengthening communities' stewardship of their lands.

Our approach leverages agroforestry as a cornerstone of a Western US circular bioeconomy. These systems maximize productivity while addressing urgent global challenges like climate resilience, soil health, and food security. Manzanita’s unique agricultural business model enables landowners to contribute to a regenerative agricultural future with traditional harvested crop revenue, in addition to revenue from empirically-grounded ecosystem services.

This white paper explores actionable, profitable and sustainable strategies for transitioning California and Western US production lands from monoculture to biodiversity-centered agroforestry, providing a practical roadmap for stakeholders invested in sustainable land stewardship. Manzanita Cooperative invites you to explore how California’s oak woodlands can serve as a global exemplar of climate-smart agriculture, ecological restoration, and circular economic innovation. Together, we can shape a resilient, sustainable future for people and the planet.