Levi Wyatt

🌲In a new study, USDA Forest Service dives into the intricate relationship between fire and smoke in Western forests. While fire offers benefits like fuel reduction and forest rejuvenation, its accompanying smoke presents challenges for #publichealth and #airquality. How can we navigate these two for a healthier future? https://lnkd.in/gpGYVUWy  #PrescribedFire #Wildfires #FireResearch #SmokeManagement #ForestHealth🔥🔬

15

📣 Reminder from the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Agricultural Land Equity Task Force (Task Force)! 🌳 There are now even more ways to weigh in on how California can #equitably increase access to ag land for food production and traditional tribal agricultural uses! Along with its planned quarterly public meetings, the Task force now also hosts subcommittee meetings to discuss recommendations specific to:  🔹 Sustaining Natural and Cultural Resources  🔹 Equitable Ag Land Grants and Resources  🔹 Community Outreach  These additional public meetings will give subcommittee members time to discuss each topic in more detail than the quarterly meetings allow. Task Force members will then take outcomes discussed back to regular meetings and help determine how these topics will be elevated in the Task Force's final recommendations in 2026.    The Task Force includes thirteen members, who meet four times a year to learn about and discuss ways California can equitably increase stable access to agricultural land that promotes farmers’ economic #resilience, Tribal sovereignty, and healthy natural working lands. The Task Force will submit a full report of recommendations on these topics to the State Legislature and Governor by January 1, 2026.   The public is invited to virtually join the Agricultural #LandEquity Task Force’s Grants and Resources Subcommittee Meeting, on Wednesday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to Noon and/or the Community Outreach Subcommittee Meeting on July 23 from 10 a.m. to Noon by clicking the link in comments. ⬇   * The Sustaining Natural and Cultural Resources Subcommittee Meeting happened July 1 and can be viewed on SGC’s YouTube Channel 📺 @californiastrategicgrowthc9893. #CaliforniaForAll 

17

2 Comments

Get ahead of California’s SB 253 and SB 261 climate reporting deadlines by formalizing your GHG inventory and risk assessments before 2025. Are you looking for insights on how to develop a streamlined greenhouse gas reporting strategy? Pinion advisors provide guidance and a suggested timeline in the following resource guide. Download to learn more: https://okt.to/BFq1fH #sustainability #climatechange #carbonemissions #sustainableagriculture

9

Did you know that active #ForestManagement is an important part of reducing the impacts of #ClimateChange? A recent article from Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities shared some of the risks of improperly maintaining forests. While some may think that the best way to maintain and manage forests is to take a hand’s off approach, to leave the forests and not interfere with the natural processes. However, as we’re learning, the forests need help and support. Engaging in forest management techniques such as forest thinning can reduce the risks of uncontrollable #WildFire, as well as reduce the strain on local water tables. Overall, this once again brings us to highlight the importance of working with Indigenous tribes on forest management. The “old ways” of conducting controlled “cultural burns” help keep forests healthy. If you want to learn more about how Indigenous tribes can help support forest management while maintaining their cultural activities, check out this video from the California OEHHA: https://lnkd.in/gUj9wJPN For a more in-depth look, you can view the full OEHHA report here: https://lnkd.in/gNDhd6NA Read the full article from Healthy Forests here: https://lnkd.in/gYPsWTQD

2

Scientific rigor and a long-term perspective are key components of our forest management plans. These plans include landscape-scale assessments that address tree health, soil and water quality, forest certification standards, and wildlife habitat. The outcome is a set of tangible environmental benefits that support and maintain our climate, water, wildlife, and communities – both today and in the future. #Sustainability #TheScienceOfModernForestry #ModernForestry 

31

Drought Update: For the first time in over three years, our region has started June without drought conditions, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. This marks a significant moment for our local farmers, ranchers, and water-dependent businesses. However, the fight against drought is far from over. Despite recent improvements in reservoir levels and near-normal precipitation in the past year, the spring brought less rainfall than expected, and groundwater levels remain critically low. This signals that drought conditions could potentially reemerge. At the Deschutes River Conservancy, we continue to prioritize the restoration of streamflow and improvement of water quality throughout the Deschutes Basin. These varying climatic conditions underscore the importance of innovative, sustainable water management strategies to address both current and future challenges. We encourage our partners, stakeholders, and the community to stay engaged and proactive. Together, we can develop and implement resilient solutions that ensure long-term water sustainability for our region. Discover more about our initiatives and how you can contribute to our mission www.deschutesriver.org Read the full article at the Bend Bulletin https://lnkd.in/gZVEHBq3 #WaterConservation #DeschutesRiverConservancy #CentralOregon #Water #Sustainability

7

Restoring the nation's waterways may be possible if we focus attention and effort on the watersheds of our small streams. To continue making progress on the goals of the Clean Water Act we need to review what we've accomplished, critically examine what has worked and what has not, and be strategic in our future investments. Full article available at: https://lnkd.in/e-Za6ed2

5

It’s easy to see dust blowing off the Great Salt Lake, but experts and data say it isn’t as easy to connect the drying lake’s water level to pollution levels. Dust storms are becoming more common, one scientist said, and that trend is likely to continue. “With current climate trends and water needs, we’re looking at a drier, dustier future,” said Molly Blakowski, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s Utah Water Science Center. And though dust is tiny — each particle is about one-fifth the width of a strand of human hair — its effects, from worsening visibility to sneezing fits to layers of silt on cars and patios, can be huge. Dust pollution is connected to the Great Salt Lake, experts said, but the lake isn’t the biggest source of dust in Utah — and it isn’t clear how much dust the lake causes. But the easiest solution to the dust that does come from the lake is clear, they said: Put more water back. #water #dust #pollution #GreatSaltLake #particulate By Megan Banta

🌿 Exciting News from the California Landscape Stewardship Network Retreat! 🌿 Recently, the League’s CEO, Darcie Goodman Collins, participated in a crucial retreat with the California Landscape Stewardship Network, collaborating with top environmental leaders to push for expansive ecosystem restoration across the state. The retreat focused on streamlining regulatory processes, called “cutting green tape,” by making regulation and approval processes more efficient and speedy. When great minds come together in the same place, magic happens by enhancing communication among key agencies. This pioneering approach fosters essential interagency cooperation and aligns with Gov. Newsom’s directive to expedite environmental restoration. Moments like these underscore the importance of leadership in environmental stewardship. We are proud of our ongoing commitment to fostering partnerships that lead to tangible solutions for California’s diverse landscapes. Ideas and lessons learned at the California Landscape Stewardship Network Retreat help build relationships between agencies and people to preserve and restore California’s natural beauty. Learn more about how we're advancing the pace and scale of ecosystem restoration. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gA9EnfEp.

9

2 Comments

Over forty years ago, Arizona took an important step toward long-term water security with the Groundwater Management Act. The act focused on the state’s most populous areas, leaving rural groundwater largely unmanaged. Today, protecting rural groundwater is one of Arizona’s top priorities, and one of its thorniest challenges. The film Agriculture and Water in the West: A Community Takes Charge, developed by the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in partnership with the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative’s Impact Water-Arizona program, documents the work of one community collaboratively addressing its groundwater issues after years of conflict. https://lnkd.in/gFQDC3vx #groundwater #AZwater

38

During SF Climate Week, California's Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, emphasised the critical role of healthy ecosystems in tackling climate change 🌿 The below interview highlights the state's focus on 'nature-based solutions' that go beyond traditional emissions reduction strategies. These solutions include restoring forests, wetlands, and grasslands, all of which can act as carbon sinks by capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. This focus on natural solutions aligns perfectly with our mission to empower farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. These practices not only improve soil health and crop yields but also enhance the land's ability to sequester carbon. We're excited to see this growing recognition of the role agriculture can play in tackling climate change, and we're committed to supporting farmers in their journey towards a more sustainable future 🚜 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ek7JupZT #SFClimateWeek #ClimateAction #RegenerativeAgriculture #CarbonSequestration #SustainableAg #ClimateSolutions #NatureBasedSolutions #CaliforniaFarming #AgTech #BX

2

Will you join Generation Restoration? 🌳 All over the world, ecosystems are under threat, with forests, drylands, farmlands and lakes all approaching critical tipping points. Recognizing this urgency, today’s #WorldEnvironmentDay of 2024 is dedicated to land restoration, halting desertification, and building drought resilience under the slogan “Our Land. Our Future.” 🌱 Corruption is frequently linked to deforestation, exacerbating these environmental threats. Transparency International published an analysis report of their collection of climate corruption cases. The global climate corruption case atlas, a first-of-its-kind tool, entails 15 corruption cases related to the forest sector, but also includes cases of environmental crime and pollution. 📖 Investigate the complex dynamics surrounding corruption, intersecting with environmental concerns. You can access the interactive map here:🗺 https://lnkd.in/eKHYggkZ #ClimateGovernance #CorruptionAtlas #ClimateAction #WorldEnvironmentDay #GenerationRestoration Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH

7

In our June Newsletter, we featured Ali San Gil, Director of State, Private, and Tribal Forestry, National Forest Systems – Forest Management, for the USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region. Learn more about Ali in our "Meet a Forester" blog post! https://lnkd.in/grdms5Qi

9

🚨💧 New report reveals 613 public water systems in California are at risk of failing, impacting communities across the state. Learn how this affects our water supply and the plans for addressing these issues. https://lnkd.in/gNjHnb2C #WaterSafety #CaliforniaWater #TheDriller

3

“As soon as trees are put in the ground, they begin accumulating carbon...That's something we want to protect and create resilience for on a very long timeline.” -Matthew Aghai, Mast Chief Science Officer In a recent feature on KGW-TV with Kale Williams, Matthew Aghai and Kea J. Woodruff, GM of Silvaseed Company, share insights about our efforts to restore forests on land impacted by devastating wildfires. Tune in to learn how Mast: 🌲 Uses locally-sourced, diverse seed adapted to specific microclimates to promote long-term forest health and resilience  🌲 Rehabilitates severely burned areas like Oregon’s Henry Creek by restoring forests  🌲 Utilizes carbon removal credits to finance large-scale reforestation projects across the western U.S. Watch the full video👇 https://lnkd.in/gPiFeGQ2 #reforestation #carboncredits #carbonfinancing

43

1 Comment

Grant Opportunity! The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation (NRCS) announced $1.5 billion through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Funding through this program will help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. There are two funding opportunities RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA).

6

TOMORROW: here comes a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect and restore forests across the Pacific Northwest! 🌲 🌲 🌲 Join the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance (PNWFCA) May 21st at 12:00pm on ZOOM. (call will be recorded) It's the "first in a two part webinar series unpacking the Northwest Forest Plan and the proposed changes the Forest Service wants to make to how our PNW forests will be managed for decades to come! Following years of grassroots organizing to protect the last remaining PNW old-growth forests and ecosystems, the Northwest Forest Plan was created in 1994. For 30 years, the NWFP has determined how federal public lands in western Washington, Oregon, and northern California would be managed. The stakes of the NWFP Amendment are huge–for our last remaining mature & old growth forests, for the livability of our climate, for threatened & endangered species, and for our communities." https://lnkd.in/grU5-aKy John Furukawa Michael Ulwelling Ania Korsunska Alexander Wick Alex Gamboa Grand Walter James, PhD Spenser Meeks Ari Simmons Stacey Dalgaard Thomas Ngo Lori Eberly, LCSW Audrey Desler Morgan Garritson Üma Kleppinger Amber Peoples Dimitry Gershenson Brian Clark (Photo credit: David Kirshbaum 📷 )

17

3 Comments