About Us
Sierra Forest Legacy - Formed in 1996, as the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign, the Campaign's member groups, including The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Friends of the River, and the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, have worked independently on Sierra Nevada issues since the 1980s. The Campaign was formed with the primary goal of protecting and restoring Sierra Nevada national forests and to coordinate and focus the efforts of its member groups and maximize their effectiveness. The Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign became a part of the California Wild Heritage Campaign in 1999, but in 2002 was reestablished as an independent coalition focused exclusively on Sierra Nevada national forest issues. In 2007 the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign changed its name to Sierra Forest Legacy to better reflect its expanded mission and vision of protecting Sierra Nevada forests and communities.
Our Mission Statement
The mission of Sierra Forest Legacy is to engage citizens, communities, and coalition members in the healthy management of the Sierra Nevada forest ecosystem to protect and restore their unparalleled beauty and natural values. We apply the best practices of science, advocacy and grassroots organizing to safeguard forest lands throughout the Sierra Nevada.
What we do...
Community Protection
In the Sierra Nevada the threat of wildfire harming communities is growing as the population increases in the mountains and foothills. We utilize the nationally recognized Firewise Communities/USA program, a Conservation Community Wildfire Protection Planning model, and our involvement in local Fire Safe Councils to help facilitate an increase in the involvement of Sierra Nevada communities in local fire protection issues. Research has shown us that it is the little things that threaten communities and our Community Protection program aims to address those "little things" as well as other protection and conservation needs of communities.
Community Forestry
Working to protect communities from wildfire through our involvement in the Firewise Communities/USA program and our collaboration with local Fire Safe Councils is just part of our efforts in working with our local Sierra communities. We also work to develop innovative community solutions to utilize excess biomass that has accumulated in our forests due to years of fire suppression and to promote the reintroduction of prescribed fire to restore our forests while protecting public health by promoting smoke mitigation measures.
Forest Conservation
Our aim is to work diligently toward the protection, enhancement, and preservation of the forests, wildlife, wildlands, and rivers and streams of the Sierra by monitoring all proposed plans, projects, laws, and actions that could negatively impact the long-term ecological health of Sierra Nevada Forests and wildlife. We work collaboratively with our partners to develop alternative proposals that would ensure the protection and restoration of threatened habitats and species. By advancing sound science we seek to secure responsible and effective management of our National Forests.