The following article was excerpted, with permission, from The Western Front, the newsletter of the Western Integrated Pest Management Center located in Davis, CA and was written by Steve Elliott, Communications Coordinator. The website for the Center is http://westernipm.org/. To subscribe to the Center’s newsletter and to view past issues, visit http://westernipm.org/index.cfm/about-the-center/publications/newsletters/.
There is a new District 3 (California and Hawaii) representative on the SAF Student Executive Committee. A hearty welcome from California SAF!
My name is Emily Thyroff, I am a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, I currently live and work in South Kona on Hawaiʻi Island on the slopes of Maunaloa. I became interested in forestry during my undergraduate studies when I worked with a forest ecologist and learned about restoration work. Through a few jobs and graduate studies I have continued working in forest restoration and regeneration. Fun fact: I have spent time in all of SAF’s districts and have done forestry work in six of SAF’s districts (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 3).
Today in conjunction with Earth Day, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) released two documents: The final Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy to advance California’s commitment to building an equitable, resilient, and carbon-neutral future through climate-focused land management; and the final Pathways to 30×30: Accelerating Conservation of California’s Nature strategy to support the state’s pledge to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 (30×30) to protect biodiversity, advance equitable access to nature and address climate change.
These strategies respond to Governor Newsom’s October 2020, Nature-Based Solutions Executive Order N-82-20, advancing biodiversity conservation as an administration priority and elevating the role of nature in the fight against climate change. As part of this Executive Order, California committed to the goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030 (30×30).
The two strategies were shaped by months of public engagement. More than 4,100 Californians engaged with the state to provide input through more than a dozen public meetings, regionally based workshops, expert topical panels on key concepts, such as equity and science, and comments on draft strategies.
Join CNRA this coming Tuesday, April 26 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) for a presentation on the state’s final Pathways to 30×30: Accelerating Conservation of California’s Nature and final Natural and Working Lands Smart Climate Strategy documents. We look forward to discussing highlights and next steps.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bE1Wwgc3T_ScFYuGNXjUtg
CNRA is responsible for overseeing the implementation of Pathways to 30×30, driving near-term strategic actions to advance progress, leveraging public funding, establishing the 30×30 Partnership, and maintaining californianature.ca.gov to inform, empower, and engage conservation champions across the state.
In conjunction with today’s announcement, CNRA also recently released a fully functional version of CA Nature, a publicly accessible suite of interactive mapping and visualization tools. CA Nature compiles statewide biodiversity, access, climate, and conservation information in one place to advance 30×30. This geographic information system (GIS) will support the implementation of 30×30 efforts at the state, regional and local levels. The website will be regularly updated to track and show progress toward meeting the goals outlined in EO 82-N-20.
For additional information on 30×30, please visit www.CaliforniaNature.ca.gov.
For additional information on the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, please visit, resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions.
This opinion piece was published March 1 in the San Jose Mercury News and East Bay Times. The author is Bill Keye, the current Cal SAF Communications Committee Chair and a past chair of NorCal SAF.
The 2022 Forestry Institute for Teachers sessions and dates have been announced. K-12 educators are invited to join forestry professionals at Tuolumne, Shasta or Humboldt Counties for a week-long workshop about forest ecology and forest resource management practices. Work with Project Learning Tree and Project WET experts to plan and implement forest health and wildfire education activities with your students. Dates and Sessions: June 19-25 in Tuolumne County, July 3-9 in Shasta County, July 10-16 in Humboldt County. To learn more, or to register, visit https://www.forestryinstitute.org/.
The attached summary is from the National Association of Forest Service Retirees (https://nafsr.org/) and describes the provisions of the recently signed national infrastructure bill.
Lots of work for all of us!
California is confronting the climate crisis head-on. On the heels of Governor Newsom and the Legislature’s historic $15 billion climate investment, the Newsom Administration announced today the release of the 2021 California Climate Adaptation Strategy (Strategy) draft for public input. The draft Strategy outlines the state’s key climate resilience priorities, includes specific and measurable steps, and serves as a framework for action across sectors and regions in California.
Public comments are due Wednesday, November 24th, and we look forward to hearing from you! Your input will help improve the final Strategy that will be used to direct climate resilience efforts across state government.
Please visit our 2021 California Climate Adaptation Strategy website to access the draft, learn how to send comments, and check out opportunities to share feedback in regional workshops and tribal listening sessions.
