Positive Outcomes from 2020 Sierra Nevada Megafires
Three of the largest events of 2020--the North Complex, SQF Complex, and the Creek Fire–-occurred in the Sierra Nevada throughout late summer and fall. Although these were overwhelmingly negative events for both ecosystems and people, there are some areas of these fires that burned beneficially, as well as some success stories that we think are worth sharing. Here, we dive into each of these three fires to explore lessons learned. Read more
Image above: The Creek Fire near Shaver Lake, image by The Fresno Bee
The Fire Restoration Challenge in California
In the past 120 years forest managers have struggled with the challenges of working in a natural ecosystem that is strongly fire associated, while trying to get that system to conform to an agricultural model of timber production and fire suppression. This has led to a culturally and ecologically tragic misunderstanding of the California landscape. Read more
Image right: Harold Biswell, 1976. Image by Mike Yost
Spotlight on Species: Native Milkweed in the Sierra Nevada (Asclepias)
Milkweed, or Asclepias--known for its milky sap that can be both toxic, medicinal, and useful, and for its role as the only larval host plant for the imperiled monarch butterfly, is well represented in California. Fifteen species occur here, six of which are found in the Sierra Nevada. Read more
Image right: Monarch butterfly on Asclepias speciosa. Image by USFWS
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"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it does otherwise."
~Aldo Leopold