California’s Forest Management Task Forcewas organized to protect the environmental quality, public health, and economic benefits that healthy forests provide to California. The Task Force aims to increase the rate of forest treatments and expand state wood product markets through innovation, assistance, and investment. Regional prioritization groups and topic specific working groups provide opportunities for RCDs to shape forest management in the state.
California Fire Safe Council Brochures are available digitally and in print. The brochures include information and resources about maintaining defensible space and home hardening.
CARCD Guide to Forest and Fire Project Opportunities. The guide details local, state, and federal project opportunities for forest, fire, and fuels. The guide outlines different ways RCDs can approach funding for forestry work and includes one page overviews of community wildfire protection plans, USFS good neighbor authority and master stewardship agreements, and direct contracting with state agencies.
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) publications office recently released a new book, “Reforestation Practices for Conifers in California”, a practical manual for landowners and managers that explains the why, where, who, when, what, and how of getting sustainable forests back into California’s diverse landscape. It is available now for immediate viewing and downloading for free on the Forest Vegetation Management Conference’s website: www.fvmc.org. Next year the book will be published in full color print and web format by UCANR.
Fire Safe Councils are often key partners to RCDs in the area of forestry and fire resilience. At least fourteen RCDs have been involved in championing Fire Safe Councils (FSC) in their local districts. Some even act as their FSC’s administrative home. Others are involved in starting the FSCs and then collaborate to provide services like chipping and technical assistance once they are established. If you are interested in starting a Fire Safe Council, reach out to the RCDs on this list to learn more.
Forestry technical service providers (TSPs) offer services to non-industrial private forest landowners on behalf of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). TSPs help these producers plan, design, and implement conservation practices or develop conservation activity plans to improve their operations. TSPs expand the number and availability of conservation technical experts capable of offering customized, one-on-one conservation advice on behalf of the NRCS. Learn more about becoming a TSP by viewing this flyer.
The National Association of Conservation Districts wants to ensure forestry contacts are aware of their LinkedIn group for conservation district professionals doing forestry work. This is a great way to tap into a network of forestry professionals. To find the group, search “conservation district forestry professionals” in LinkedIn or click here to access the group.
The RCD Post-Fire Playbook was created to provide RCDs information to perform post-wildfire recovery. The purpose of this handbook is to serve as a guide for RCDs to combat forest and property loss. While the focus is on post-fire action, this handbook recognizes the importance of pre- and during-wildfire actions to effectively accomplish the subsequent post-fire steps. This handbook was created and compiled through a series of Post-Fire Playbook Monthly Forums hosted by CARCD with regular RCD involvement and feedback.
University of California Cooperative Extension recorded a detailed prescribed fire workshop, which is now available online for free. The workshop provided attendees with the skills to develop smoke management plans, increase understanding of liability and permit development, and highlight management examples along with upcoming opportunities and policy changes. The workshop was intended for foresters, resource managers, and others with an interest in prescribed fire on private lands. Click here to view the online talks at your convenience.
