Climate Now Podcast Released: Is there a profitable approach to carbon capture and storage?
A Sawmill Comes to Crescent Mills
Unconventional partnership between local logging company and nonprofit brings hope to Dixie Fire survivors.
The Sierra Institute just announced that they have purchased a sawmill that will change the dynamics of Dixie Fire restoration and forest management across Plumas County.
“With tens of thousands of trees burned, what better way to use them than to rebuild the town of Greenville,” said Executive Director of the Sierra Institute, Jonathan Kusel.
Given their longtime efforts, the Institute was hoping to recruit businesses in the coming years to manufacture wood products at an old Louisiana Pacific mill site, referred to as the Indian Valley Wood Products Campus. These efforts have quickly moved forward as a result of the Dixie Fire.
Sierra Institute is partnering with longtime local partner J&C Enterprises who will run the mill.
The mill will bring jobs to the community and ensure local lumber availability. Importantly, it will provide lower cost lumber to the community, reducing the burden on residents who might otherwise not be able to afford to rebuild.
Kusel noted that the Institute was able to redirect grant funds with support of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to purchase the mill.
We Just Released New Research
Read the Press Release DACTI Press Release FINAL 7.20.21
On April 26th, 2021 Jonathan was a featured speaker for the UC Berkeley Forestry Department:
In this video, Dr. Jonathan Kusel, Executive Director and Founder of The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment discusses how increasing woody biomass utilization can contribute to forest, watershed, and community restoration.
On March 4th, 2021 Jonathan was a featured speaker/panelist at CalForward:
California’s wildfire crisis continued its destructive march in 2020, leading to the state’s largest wildfire season on record. Building on the principles of California’s Wildfire Crisis: A Call to Action, we must work to shift the state’s primary focus from reactive fire suppression and recovery to the proactive reduction of risks and restoration of resilient forests, watersheds, working landscapes, and ecosystems.
On March 8, 2021, Jonathan was a key speaker at the Watershed Improvement Forum Sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy:
The Forum focused on how a restoration economy in the Sierra Nevada region could reduce wildfire risk, support forest health, bring back livable wage jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and help achieve the state’s climate goals. This summit presented a vision of how a restoration economy could be established in the Region and the resources necessary to make it a success.
On February 25th, 2021 Sierra Institute hosted our biannual SCALE Meeting:
Our most recent meeting (Winter 2021) covered the landscape, community, and tribal impacts of the 2020 wildfire season. Through discussions and talks with a wide variety of speakers and panelists, we covered topics ranging from healing in the wake of traumatic wildfire, to the importance of equity and inclusion of tribal voices in postfire restoration work and opportunities. Together, we started important conversations in navigating postfire landscapes, and will only continue to expand on these discussions in the future.
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Sierra Institute staff regularly write a reflection, examination, or explanation on various parts of our work in our Blog! Check out the Blog by clicking here.
Why Our Work Matters
More of California’s forest carbon is going up in smoke. Sierra Nevada Conservancy
2020 megafires create risks for California’s water supply. Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Program Updates
Articles Featuring Sierra Institute
Fire Power
What if the answer to California's wildfire woes is more fire?
