Author: packerlandteam

PRESS AVAILABILITY

Sacramento, January 21, 2023

The California Society of American Foresters (Cal SAF) announces the release of a major new position statement, Forestry Solutions to California’s Wildfire Crisis, posted online at https://californiasaf.org/policy/.  Drawing upon the latest science, the document explains why our seasonally dry forests have become prone to catastrophic megafires, and what needs to be done to reverse the trend.  Although periodic drought and climate change are contributing factors, the paper zeroes in the cause most responsive to practical intervention: massive accumulations of highly flammable fuels.

Forestry Solutions complements Cal SAF’s recently approved Giant Sequoia Policy Statement (Sustaining native giant sequoia groves requires active, adaptive management), also posted online.

For More Information Please Contact: Bill Keye, Cal SAF Communications Chair, wwkeye@gmail.com, (530) 355-0670.

The California Society of American Foresters

Cal SAF is a State Society of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is a professional association with headquarters in Washington, DC. The Society is organized across the United States and Canada, serving as an accreditation and research body representing all segments of the forestry profession; including public and private practitioners, administrators, educators, and forestry students. SAF governs a majority of the political and scientific topics at the national level, which allows each jurisdiction to represent itself independently, guided by SAF’s Mission and Code of Ethics.

2023 Forestry in the Redwoods: Growth, Reforestation & Resilience

California SAF, in partnership with Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods, is hosting the 2023 Winter SAF Meeting in the majestic redwoods of Northern California. The three-day event will highlight local forestry projects, agencies, organizations, and student activities.

Refer to the attached flyer for the agenda, registration information and details on potential lodging options and venue location. The following link will take you to the eventbrite registration page: CalSAFWinterMeeting

Check out the latest news from California SAF, including messages from the Chair, vice-chair, and past-chair and the results of the 2023 officers’ election. If you have something for the next newsletter in March 2023, articles are due to ncsaf@mcn.org by February 25, 2023.

PRESS AVAILABILITY
Sacramento, October 4, 2022

The California Society of American Foresters (Cal SAF) has released a Position Statement addressing ongoing threats to the state’s iconic Big Trees. Scientists estimate that up to 20% of the largest giant sequoias have been killed by intensely hot wildfires in recent years. Arresting this deadly trend and reversing its trajectory, especially in a time of rapid climate change, are matters of intense public interest. The paper, posted online at https://californiasaf.org/policy/, lays out the understandings and actions that are needed to accomplish this urgent conservation work.

The primary author of this new Cal SAF position statement is Dr. Robert “Rob” York. Dr. York is a Professor of Cooperative Extension in Forestry at U.C. Berkeley and a leading authority on forest ecology and management in California’s Sierra Nevada. He may be contacted at (530) 333-0426 or ryork@berkeley.edu.

For More Information Please Contact:
Bill Keye, Cal SAF Communications Chair, wwkeye@gmail.com, (530) 355-0670.

The California Society of American Foresters
Cal SAF is a State Society of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is a professional association with headquarters in Washington, DC. The Society is organized across the United States and Canada, serving as an accreditation and research body representing all segments of the forestry profession; including public and private practitioners, administrators, educators, and forestry students. SAF governs a majority of the political and scientific topics at the national level, which allows each jurisdiction to represent itself independently, guided by SAF’s Mission and Code of Ethics.

See the report out on the Summer Meeting to the Caldor Fire, what’s happening nationally at SAF from our District 3 Rep, an opinion piece from Bill Keye, information on the Redwoods Rising program on the north coast, the Forestry Challenge, and more! There is also an opportunity to take part in a survey concerning urban and community forestry in California.

[Updated 9/11/2022 at 10:30am] Berkeley Forests staff continue to monitor the progress of the Mosquito Fire on Blodgett Forest. As of the Sunday morning Cooperator Meeting, fire crews have contained much of the active fire within the bounds of Blodgett Forest. Fire behavior and weather continue to be favorable in the area, and fire line is in place across much of the fire permiter located within Blodgett Forest (as visible on this map). As winds shift to a southwesterly flow (i.e. coming out of the southwest and moving east), fire weather will continue to be favorable to moving the fire away from Blodgett Forest.

Berkeley Forests’ Research Forest Manager, Ariel Roughton, has worked dilligently with incident managers and the fire crews to ensure that the fire operations carried out at Blodgett Forest took into consideration the highly valuable research being conducted on the property. Thanks to her efforts, Berkeley Forests is hopeful that much of our existing research has been protected from fire suppression impacts (primarly dozer line).

[Updated 9/9/2022 at 11:49am] Berkeley Forests staff have confirmed with on-the-ground fire personnel that as of early morning September 9th, the Mosquito Fire is burning within the boundaries of Blodgett Forest Research Station, generally on the northwest portion of the property. Prior to the fire entering the property, all Blodgett Forest personnel were evacuated and are safe at this time.

Fire safe clearing is in place around the structures on the property in the “Headquarters” area (where buildings including the Vaux Center, A-Frame Cabins, Staff House, and others are located). Although the fire has not yet burned in this area, it will likely reach this portion of the property in the coming day. Fire personnel have indicated that structure protection is their priority at this time.

Berkeley Forests staff continue to coordinate with fire personnel with the goal of minimizing the impacts on the research plots throughout the forest. A more detailed update will be provided as additional information becomes available and Berkeley Forests staff are allowed back onto the property.

Blodgett Forest personnel are extremely busy at this time, and Berkeley Forests requests interested parties continue to check the link below for updates, rather than contacting Blodgett Forest or UC Berkeley personnel directly. Urgent inquiries can be directed to Rachelle Hedges (rachelle.hedges@berkeley.edu) or 510-664-4903.

For further updates, check https://forests.berkeley.edu/news/2022/09/blodgett-forest-research-station-the-mosquito-fire-99-update.