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 […]
Rural Economies
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 […]
Why Wood Utilization
Project Spotlight for February 2018: Wood Utilization Plumas County is a beautiful area full of rich history, culture, lakes, rivers, an endless network of forest roads, and tightly-knit communities. My daily commute to work is arguably the most beautiful out there, a daily reminder of how thrilled I am to call Plumas County home. It’s beautiful […]
Storymap: Fire, Forests & the Future of Rural Communities
Click here to view Fire, Forests & the Future of Rural Communities The Sierra Institute recently released a storymap depicting our biomass projects. The story makes the case for biomass utilization by providing a background on wildfire, tree mortality, active forest management, mill closures, and rural economies today. The story ends with a description of […]