A vibrant community is based in a healthy ecosystem – but just as important is a working economy. When we were planning this event—long before pandemic made in-person gathering impossible—we wanted to foster a conversation with community members about the way our environment influences our economy and vice-versa – and how both affect quality of […]
Community Well Being
Sierra Institute Chosen for Rural Community Investment
Wood utilization in the Sierra Nevada got a big boost when the Sierra Nevada Conservancy awarded $400,000 to Sierra Institute for enhancing local business. The funding will help the Taylorsville-based organization increase use of low-value, small diameter wood, creating both healthier forests and better jobs. At least 10 redeveloped industrial sites will be incorporated in […]
Exploring socioeconomic effects of fire in Amador and Calaveras Counties
In recent years, California has been experiencing an increase in large fires due to a combination of factors, including drought conditions and a history of fire suppression. We saw this trend continue this summer with the Carr and Mendocino Complex Fires and even more recently this November with the Camp Fire. Fires tend to disproportionately […]
Attending the International Symposium on Society and Natural Resource Management
Last month, Lauren and I attended the International Symposium on Society and Natural Resource Management (ISSRM) in Utah, where we presented preliminary findings from our research with the California Department of Conservation (DOC) on the Statewide Watershed Program. ISSRM is an annual gathering of professionals and students working at the intersection of social science and […]
Water is for Everyone: Disadvantaged Communities Involvement Program
Happy Friday, Lauren here with this week’s installment of Spotlight on the Disadvantaged Community Involvement (DACI) Program. Last week I wrote about Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) and environmental justice to provide a little background on the “why” of the DACI Program. This week, I’m going to tell you more about the program itself. Integrated […]
Water is for Everyone: An Introduction
Hello, my name is Lauren Burton and I am a Social Science Assistant at Sierra Institute and one half of the Laurens working on a new project called the Disadvantaged Community Involvement Program. I am excited to share this project with you over the next few weeks in this month’s Spotlight. This week I’m kicking […]