Symposium

Sierra Nevada Conservancy
3rd Annual Symposium
“Connecting the Dots”
Wildfire, Forest Health, and Sustainable Rural Economies

Today, many Sierra Nevada communities face several significant and difficult problems including the threat of catastrophic wildfire, a decline in the health of surrounding forests and watersheds, and serious challenges to local economic sustainability.  Understanding the relationship between these issues holds the potential for an important and perhaps unprecedented opportunity.

The opportunity exists for the development and implementation of a strategic approach to investment of state, federal and private funds in the Sierra Nevada for protection and enhancement of natural resources, reduction of uncharacteristic wildfire threat, and renewable energy production and sustainable economic development.  Any such approach must address the following questions: 

• Is it possible to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire in the Sierra Nevada in a manner that enhances and protects ecological values while creating sustained economic activity in its communities?
• How can collaborative, inclusive processes be used to achieve such outcomes? 
• What models exist in the Region or elsewhere that can be used as the basis for implementing projects on the ground? 
• Are there policies that need to be changed and/or implemented to encourage such an approach?  How can existing climate change and energy policies be incorporated into the dialogue in order to support needed policy changes?

These are among the questions that were considered at the 2009 Sierra Nevada Conservancy Symposium, held on October 29, 2009.

 

Discussion notes for the afternoon sessions are now available, by location.

Bishop
Cameron Park
Grass Valley
Oakhurst
Oroville
Quincy
Susanville
Sutter Creek
Visalia

 

  Videos of the Webposium morning panel discussions are now available.

• Welcome and Opening Remarks
• Panel 1:  On-the-Ground Projects/White Mountain Video
• Panel 2:  Sustainable Economies, Sustainable Environment/W. M. Beaty and Associates Video
• Panel 3:  Research and Policy…Looking Forward
• Wrap Up/Hand-off to Local Regional Discussions

The program intent, agenda, and Regional location listing are posted below.

Connecting the Dots Webposium Program Information

Connecting the Dots Webposium Draft Agenda

Connecting the Dots Webposium Regional Locations

Connecting the Dots Webposium Panel Member Biographies and Regional Location Moderators

 

You may contact Theresa Parsley for more information about this program.