This webinar is an opportunity for participants to increase their understanding of how to navigate the Public Works Plan (PWP) to restore forest health in mixed conifer, oak woodland, and coastal redwood forest habitats using ecologically appropriate vegetation treatments to increase wildfire resiliency and community wildfire safety.

Jamie Tuitele-Lewis, Forest Health Coordinator at the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, will discuss the background of the Rancho Rico project and the ecology of the area and sensitivities regarding wildfire prevention work in this locale. Rayner Marx, Program Manager at Fire Adapted Big Sur, will explain how neighborhood wildfire mitigation efforts make the entire community more wildfire-resilient, with private and local/Tribal/state/federal organizations working together. Tim Montgomery, Unit Forester at CAL FIRE BEU, will discuss the purpose of CAL FIRE grants and the CalVTP. Ben Eichorn, Owner of Coast Wildland and Grant Manager for the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County (ETMC) Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grant, will focus on the distinct types of grants available for tribal entities in support of returning to indigenous land stewardship practices. Megan Barker, Environmental Scientist at the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, will cover the process of coastal permitting for fuels reduction work through the Monterey County Forest Health and Fire Resilience Public Works Plan (PWP) and how it differs from inland projects solely using the Board of Forestry’s California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP). Tom Little Bear Nason, Tribal Chairman Esselen Tribe of Monterey County and Co-owner of Ventana Forestry, will share from his decades of experience working as a Native American contractor, sharing knowledge and experience of vegetation management in ESHA.

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