| Track | Session Title | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| General Plenaries Open to All |
Title: Opening Plenary Moderator: Alexa Finn, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Ron W. Goode, North Fork Mono Tribe - Keynote Speaker |
Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Executive Director will provide the commencement address and welcome. The Honorable Ron W. Goode, North Fork Mono Tribe Chairman will open the conference with a blessing, share his definition of an Alliance, and provide his conservation perspective for the region. |
| General Plenaries Open to All |
Title: Morning Hike Facilitator: Sierra Nevada Journeys Staff |
Come stretch your legs and enjoy wonderful views with a mid-morning walk around the property. |
| General Plenaries Open to All |
Title: Working Lunch: Member Group Annual Meeting, Sierra Nevada Alliance Update, Sierra Nevada 30x30 Update Moderator: Board Member, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Sierra Nevada Alliance Member Groups Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Liesbet Olaerts, Sierra Nevada Alliance |
During the lunch hour, hear updates from Sierra Nevada Alliance Member Groups. Member Groups will elect incoming board members followed by a brief update on the work of the Alliance. After the update, the Alliance’s Sierra Nevada 30x30 Organizer will discuss California’s ambitious endeavors to conserve its biodiversity while advancing equitable access and building resilience to a changing climate. We will dive into how initiatives like 30×30, climate-smart strategies, the governor’s biodiversity executive order, and recent budget investments can provide a framework and unique opportunity for advancing conservation and strengthening restoration in the Sierra Nevada. |
| General Plenaries Open to All |
Title: Opening Plenary Two States Protect the Sierra Moderator: Sierra Riker, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Jessica Morse, California Natural Resources Agency Jim Lawrence, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Agency |
Hear two of California and Nevada Natural Resource Agencies’ lead staffers share highlights of their priorities for the Sierra Nevada and learn how they are working across state lines to accomplish their goals. |
| General Plenaries Open to All |
Title: Closing Plenary Moderator: Alexa Finn, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Obi Kaufmann - Keynote Speaker |
Artist-adventurer and best-selling author Obi Kaufmann will be speaking virtually about creating unity as a strategy for conservation and protecting the Sierra Nevada. In closing, Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Executive Director will give final reflections. |
| Conservation |
Title: What is possible with 30x30? Moderator: Liesbet Olaerts, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Dr. Darla DeRuiter, Friends of Plumas Wilderness Dr. Logan Robertson Huecker, Sequoia Riverlands Trust Adam Livingston, Sequoia Riverlands Trust |
Learn about two major watershed and landscapes conservation efforts that are advancing biodiversity, building climate resilience, connecting major ecoregions and habitats, and strengthening partnerships with Tribes and communities in the Sierra Nevada. Dr. Darla DeRuiter will share the ambitious plan to conserve the public lands of the Upper Feather River Watershed. While Dr. Logan Robertson Huecker and Adam Livingston will discuss the opportunities to restore landscape-scale habitat connectivity in the Southern Sierra and San Joaquin Valley. | Conservation |
Title: Wildlife Research & Restoration Moderator: Rebecca Williams, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Sarah Hockensmith, Tahoe Institute For Natural Science Chad L. Thomas, California Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers |
In this session you will learn about the innovative wildlife research a small non-profit is doing to track sensitive species in the Northern Sierra and how diverse partners are coming together to restore wildlife after a fire at Hallelujah Junction Wildlife Area. |
| Climate Resiliency |
Title: Climate Assessment Tools Moderator: Seth Connolly, Sierra Nevada Alliance Facilitator: Jill Sanford, Sierra Business Council Panelists: Kaeleigh Reynolds, Sierra Business Council Michael McCormick, Farallon Strategies, LLC Wayne Spencer, PhD, Conservation Biology Institute |
This presentation will include an overview of how key documents such as Sierra Business Council’s Vulnerability Assessment Report may be used by county planners, and highlight next steps for climate adaptation. |
| Engaging Communities | Title: Traditional Ecological Knowledge Through Storytelling Moderator: Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenter: Ron W. Goode, North Fork Mono Tribe |
Ron W. Goode will host a storytelling session sharing how Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) can open new approaches and perspectives to conservation. |
| Engaging Communities | Title: Outdoor Recreationists Shape Conservation in the Sierra Nevada Moderator: Liesbet Olaerts, Sierra Nevada Alliance Facilitator: Katie Hawkins, Outdoor Alliance Panelists: Katie Hawkins, Outdoor Alliance David Page, Winter Wildlands Alliance Katie Goodwin, Access Fund Theresa L. Lorejo-Simsiman, American Whitewater Steve Messer, California Mountain Biking Coalition |
A discussion with leaders from the Outdoor Alliance, Access Fund, American Whitewater, and California Mountain Biking Coalition about how the outdoor recreation community is shaping conservation values, impacting climate change policies, and creating a more equitable and inclusive outdoors in the Sierra Nevada. |
| Engaging Communities | Title: People Power: Inspiring Communities to Protect the Jewel of the Sierra Moderator: Jennifer Marshall, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Jeff Cowan, Clean Up the Lake Shelby Cook, Tahoe Prosperity Center |
Jeff Cowan, Clean Up the Lake Board Member, shares results from their 72-mile circumnavigational litter cleanup of Lake Tahoe. Results help to better understand freshwater litter accumulation, educate the public and inspire environmental stewardship of freshwater resources. Shelby Cook, Tahoe Prosperity Center Project Manager will then discuss Envision Tahoe, and how accurate and pertinent data, deliberate community engagement and outreach, and extensive collaboration contribute to the resiliency and sustainability of a region. |
| Forest Health | Title: Resilient Forests Moderator: Taylor Parker, PhD, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Malcolm North, PhD, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Wayne Spencer, PhD, Conservation Biology Institute |
Dr. Malcolm North will ask “In dry western forests, what is resilience and can managed fire get us there?” and Dr. Wayne Spencer will share innovative models for how forest managers can receive timely and accurate scientific information to respond to rapidly changing forest conditions. |
| Forest Health | Title: Fire Recovery Moderator: Taylor Parker, PhD, Sierra Nevada Alliance Presenters: Jose Esparza - California Native Plant Society Shelton Douthit - Feather River Land Trust |
To better understand Fire Recovery, Jose Esparza will share the work of The California Fire Followers. Shelton Douthit will then discuss ecologically sound protocols for post fire recovery. |
| Green Economy | Title: Funding Priorities for the Sierra Nevada Region Facilitator/Moderator:Jenny Hatch, Sierra Nevada Alliance Panelists: Bill Roby, Eldorado Community Foundation Brandon Bishop, NV Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Keali'i Bright, Department of Conservation Luke Hunt, Sierra Nevada Conservancy Nicole Lutkemuller, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation |
A panel of diverse funders map out recently funded priority projects, and what the outlook for next year looks like. We will also dive in to gain some perspective on existing gaps. |
| Green Economy | Title: CERF Panel Moderator: Coleen Shade, Sierra Nevada Alliance Board Member Facilitator: Jill Sanford, Sierra Business Council Panelists: David Shabazian, California Department of Conservation Courtney Farrell, CSU Chico Evan Schmidt, Valley Vision |
The Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) was created by the state to promote a sustainable and equitable recovery from the economic distress of COVID-19 by supporting new plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create high-quality, broadly accessible jobs for all Californians. The Sierra Nevada is divided into three CERF regions for the Planning Phase (northern Sierra CERF region, the central Sierra convened, and the southern and eastern Sierra convened. Potential conveners include Sierra Business Council, Valley Vision, and CSU Chico. These three organizations have been working closely with regional stakeholders to conduct climate impact, economic, and labor market research in preparation for their applications. Learn more about the Community Economic Resilience Fund’s process and how you can get involved. We will how research findings will benefit local economies and ensure equitable, sustainable economies that boost climate resiliency and community capacity. |
