Forest Futures Salon Series: Stewarding Our Collective Home

When Fire Helps: Scaling Prescribed Burning Across the Sierra

• Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
• Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, with networking & refreshments to follow until 7:30 pm
• Location: Tahoe Donner Lodge: 12850 Northwoods Blvd. Truckee, CA 96161
• Register Here. (If registration is full, email Erika Veidis, Forest Futures Program Director, to be added to the waitlist.)

Sierra forests once burned regularly. Naturally occurring and human-managed fires knocked back brush and dead trees, released seeds, and prevented catastrophic burns from destroying ecosystems. After decades of mismanagement and fire suppression, our forests are severely overcrowded and ready for dangerous ignition. In this salon, we will hear about prospects for returning beneficial fire to the land – and what impacts this has for forest health and community protection – from local fire and forestry professionals as well as tribal representatives revitalizing cultural burning practices.

Presenters: Colleen Rossier, Senior Research and Policy Advisor, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources | April Shackleford, North Tahoe Fire Protection District | Kyle Tabor-Cooper, Washoe Tribe Department of Environmental Protection

Working in the Woods: Jobs in Forests, Fires, and Wood Innovation

• Date: Thursday, May 23, 2025
• Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, with networking & refreshments to follow until 7:30 pm
• Location: In-Person, To Be Announced
• Register Here. (If registration is full, email Erika Veidis, Forest Futures Program Director, to be added to the waitlist.)

Restoring health to Sierra forests is a big job. This salon highlights what kinds of careers are available in a growing forest economy – from fire mitigation to forestry to making wood and biomass into innovative products. Our speakers discuss not only emerging career pathways, but also what forest-based work could mean for a diversified and resilient local economy. For those looking to call the forest their office, those interested in supporting the workforce of tomorrow, or those who want to explore economic pathways towards a stronger Tahoe Truckee – join us in a conversation about win-win solutions for local jobs and our forests.

VIRTUAL TTCF LUNCH & LEARNS

Home Hardening, Insurance, and Wildfire Risk Housing Solutions

• Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
• Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, 
• Location: Zoom
• Register here.

We want to provide practical steps to community members on how to protect their home and our community from wildfire. In addition to you, we’re bringing in experts on home hardening, insights into fire-resistant construction, as well as guidance on navigating fire insurance. A Q&A will follow the presentations, giving you a chance to get your questions answered by the experts.

Presenters: Eric Horntvedt, Wildfire Prevention Manager, Truckee Fire Protection District | Jonathan Kusel, Executive Director, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment | Ryan Valdez, Managing Director, RockRose Risk

Preparing for Wildfires

• Date: Friday, July 11, 2025
• Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, 
• Location: Zoom

More information coming soon.