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Speakers will call for paradigm shift to “starve” megafires, save Giant Sequoia

For Immediate Release                                                                                        Sacramento, CA April 3, 2023

Members of the California Society of American Foresters (Cal-SAF) are coming to Sacramento on Wednesday, April 5^th, to meet with the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (BOF).  They will present two new papers, “Sustaining native giant sequoia groves requires active, adaptive management”, and “Forestry Solutions to California’s Wildfire Crisis”.  The presentations are set to take place during the morning, beginning at approximately 10:00 AM.

Cal-SAF Chair Karin Linnen stressed that the policy statements reflect a concerted effort by Golden State natural resource professionals.  “We are losing our forests, and this absolutely doesn’t need to be happening,” Linnen stated.  “California is home to unique and precious native forests – mixed coniferous, coast redwood and Giant Sequoia.  We need to protect them for future generations.  Wildfires in our state have significantly increased in size and magnitude.    Wednesday’s presentations are a great opportunity for us to engage with state officials and to advocate for better outcomes.”

The BOF April meeting agenda, including location and webcast information, is posted at: https://bof.fire.ca.gov/business/meeting-agendas-and-annual-schedules/.  The Cal-SAF policy papers are posted on the Society’s website at: https://californiasaf.org/policy/.

For More Information Contact:

Bill Keye, Cal SAF Communications Chair, wwkeye@gmail.com, (530) 355-0670.

The California Society of American Foresters

Cal SAF is a State Society of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is a professional association with headquarters in Washington, DC. The Society is organized across the United States and Canada, serving as an accreditation and research body representing all segments of the forestry profession; including public and private practitioners, administrators, educators, and forestry students. SAF governs a majority of the political and scientific topics at the national level, which allows each jurisdiction to represent itself independently, guided by SAF’s Mission and Code of Ethics.

PRESS AVAILABILITY

Sacramento, January 21, 2023

The California Society of American Foresters (Cal SAF) announces the release of a major new position statement, Forestry Solutions to California’s Wildfire Crisis, posted online at https://californiasaf.org/policy/.  Drawing upon the latest science, the document explains why our seasonally dry forests have become prone to catastrophic megafires, and what needs to be done to reverse the trend.  Although periodic drought and climate change are contributing factors, the paper zeroes in the cause most responsive to practical intervention: massive accumulations of highly flammable fuels.

Forestry Solutions complements Cal SAF’s recently approved Giant Sequoia Policy Statement (Sustaining native giant sequoia groves requires active, adaptive management), also posted online.

For More Information Please Contact: Bill Keye, Cal SAF Communications Chair, wwkeye@gmail.com, (530) 355-0670.

The California Society of American Foresters

Cal SAF is a State Society of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is a professional association with headquarters in Washington, DC. The Society is organized across the United States and Canada, serving as an accreditation and research body representing all segments of the forestry profession; including public and private practitioners, administrators, educators, and forestry students. SAF governs a majority of the political and scientific topics at the national level, which allows each jurisdiction to represent itself independently, guided by SAF’s Mission and Code of Ethics.

2023 Forestry in the Redwoods: Growth, Reforestation & Resilience

California SAF, in partnership with Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods, is hosting the 2023 Winter SAF Meeting in the majestic redwoods of Northern California. The three-day event will highlight local forestry projects, agencies, organizations, and student activities.

Refer to the attached flyer for the agenda, registration information and details on potential lodging options and venue location. The following link will take you to the eventbrite registration page: CalSAFWinterMeeting

Check out the latest news from California SAF, including messages from the Chair, vice-chair, and past-chair and the results of the 2023 officers’ election. If you have something for the next newsletter in March 2023, articles are due to ncsaf@mcn.org by February 25, 2023.

PRESS AVAILABILITY
Sacramento, October 4, 2022

The California Society of American Foresters (Cal SAF) has released a Position Statement addressing ongoing threats to the state’s iconic Big Trees. Scientists estimate that up to 20% of the largest giant sequoias have been killed by intensely hot wildfires in recent years. Arresting this deadly trend and reversing its trajectory, especially in a time of rapid climate change, are matters of intense public interest. The paper, posted online at https://californiasaf.org/policy/, lays out the understandings and actions that are needed to accomplish this urgent conservation work.

The primary author of this new Cal SAF position statement is Dr. Robert “Rob” York. Dr. York is a Professor of Cooperative Extension in Forestry at U.C. Berkeley and a leading authority on forest ecology and management in California’s Sierra Nevada. He may be contacted at (530) 333-0426 or ryork@berkeley.edu.

For More Information Please Contact:
Bill Keye, Cal SAF Communications Chair, wwkeye@gmail.com, (530) 355-0670.

The California Society of American Foresters
Cal SAF is a State Society of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is a professional association with headquarters in Washington, DC. The Society is organized across the United States and Canada, serving as an accreditation and research body representing all segments of the forestry profession; including public and private practitioners, administrators, educators, and forestry students. SAF governs a majority of the political and scientific topics at the national level, which allows each jurisdiction to represent itself independently, guided by SAF’s Mission and Code of Ethics.

See the report out on the Summer Meeting to the Caldor Fire, what’s happening nationally at SAF from our District 3 Rep, an opinion piece from Bill Keye, information on the Redwoods Rising program on the north coast, the Forestry Challenge, and more! There is also an opportunity to take part in a survey concerning urban and community forestry in California.