Chaparral vegetation is widespread in California, and there is growing appreciation of the ecosystem services and conservation values it provides. At the same time, there is a growing concern about the fire risk associated with chaparral, especially in areas where communities and other assets are within chaparral landscapes.

Building on the results of the earlier California Chaparral Symposia, the focus this year is on the resilience of chaparral ecosystems and the societies and assets that exist within and adjacent to them. Scientists, managers, and stakeholders will work together to assess and address the costs and benefits of management action, and inaction, in the face of a rapidly warming climate, increasing wildfire risk, and growing threats to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity.