James Von Tersch is a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) member working with Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) as a stewardship specialist this year.

SRT conserves and manages the lands and waters of central inland California. SRT’s conservation, education, and stewardship departments all work to protect land and educate the public. Besides education and restoration work at their preserves, SRT works to set up Conservation Easements and mitigate the loss of farmland and natural areas in Tulare County.

James helped set up SRT’s Lewis Hill Wildflower Walk in February – an important annual event that allows hundreds of visitors access to a preserve that’s usually closed to the public. The Lewis Hill Preserve in the Sierra Foothills is home to the endemic and endangered Striped Adobe Lily (Fritillaria striata). The preserve is home to the only protected population in Tulare County, ensuring the protection of this species for the future.

James is originally from Fresno, CA, and received a degree in Environmental Studies. Prior to joining SNAP, he worked as a grocer at Murphy’s Market in Arcata. James is most looking forward to making a long-lasting impact on his local community and environment. He hopes to create a project that will live past his SNAP term and become something valued by SRT and the local community. James wants to create a project that future SNAP members can also contribute to, while serving the dual purpose of educating his community and restoring a degraded natural area.

Funding for SNAP is supported by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Nature Fund and Martis Fund – a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP), and Sierra Watch. Sierra Nevada Alliance is a proud grantee of AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.