Check out all the progress our incredible volunteer stewards have been able to accomplish lately!
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As the McKinney Fire continues to sweep through northern California, resources are being compiled to issue aid to aid our community members, provide up-to-date information on evacuations and road closures, and supply smoke and fire updates.
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Summer is here and our PLAY (Public Lands and You) Stewardship Program is working hard to protect and restore the important Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area for the fifth consecutive year.
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Prescribed fire can have many benefits. It can reduce fine fuels, brush and small trees and reduce subsequent fire severity. It can help forests become more resilient in the face of climate change. Read more about prescribed fire policy at this KS Wild Blog Post .
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On Earth Day, President Biden issued an Executive Order that directs federal forest managers to protect mature and old growth forests. Here’s a breakdown of the Executive Order’s details and how you can get involved in protecting these important giants.
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Old-growth forests are dominated by ancient trees and have been shaped by natural processes over the course of hundreds of years. There are several types of old-growth forests throughout the Pacific Northwest marked by dynamic ecosystems supporting biodiversity that relies on the unique environment created only in these ancient forests. Learn more about what features make an old-growth forest.
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KS Wild and our allies recently challenged the BLM’s (now withdrawn) Lost Antelope timber sale. This timber sale would have contributed to increased fire hazard near or within the WUI through regeneration harvest in an area where many untreated slash piles remain from a previous timber sale.
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The US Forest Service recently announced a 10-year, multibillion-dollar plan to reduce wildfire risk on up to 50 million acres that border vulnerable communities throughout the country. Read KS Wild’s summary of the plan and how it will impact our work and our region.
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"Integrated Vegetation Management for Resilient Lands" (IVM) sure sounds great doesn't it? Unfortunately, those flowery words are agency-speak for logging old-growth forest reserves down to 30% canopy cover and creating four-acre mini-clearcuts across the landscape in southwestern Oregon.
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America’s road network, as currently designed, is a major impediment to wildlife migration. The passage of HB 4130-1 in the legislature this year is particularly important to the prospect of building wildlife crossing in our region. Read more about KS Wild’s work as a partner in the Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition (SOWCC), focusing on improved wildlife passages on Interstate 5 between Ashland and the California state line along the Siskiyou Crest.
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After nearly a year of negotiations, an agreement over new rules for the Oregon Forest Practices Act has been reached between timber and environmental groups to overhaul management of 10 million acres of private forestlands in Oregon. These changes will update Oregon's forest practice laws and provide significant new protections for our imperiled salmon, recreational and commercial fisheries, and for the communities that rely on these resources.
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While Senators and the White House determine a path forward on infrastructure and other climate-related bills, efforts to expand protections for wildlands and wildlife continue on the side with Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
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In order to adapt to climate change and increased wildfire severity, we need new policies based on climate adaptation for both our communities and our landscapes. While much more needs to be done, as a result of engaged and vocal residents, some of our elected officials are taking action. Here is a rundown of the actions being considered and taken by political leaders at the local, state and federal levels that could help us adapt to the increased risk of wildfire.
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As a part of KS Wild’s efforts to advance natural solutions to climate change, we are advocating for the recovery of beaver. These aquatic rodents are a keystone species—their life cycle allows other species to thrive—and their natural dams help native fish and other species adapt to climate change.
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A guest post from Tate Oliva, the Climate Program Youth Science Intern this past winter. Through Tate’s internship, she learned how climate change is effecting the ecosystems of the Klamath-Siskiyou. Combining her passion for photography and being outdoors in nature, Tate captured photographs of the many ecosystems in the area to be used in KS Wild’s climate smart advocacy, which aims to address how climate-smart conservation practices can be applied in the region.
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In early April, KS Wild staff members were invited to a community prescribed burn located in the Applegate Valley. This burn was put together by professional wildland firefighters, curious community members, and volunteers. With fire season right around the corner, this was a great opportunity to learn how to prepare your property for wildfire.
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KS Wild applauds the Biden administration for taking concrete steps to begin addressing the impacts of climate change on our communities and public lands.
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As part of a team working on a state-wide effort to update Oregon forest practices through a historic agreement with the timber industry, KS Wild and Rogue Riverkeeper are working to fight clearcut logging that leaves behind flammable logging slash, causes sediment that fills salmon streams, and minimizes forest carbon storage that contributes to climate change.
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This past summer and fall, KS Wild staff along with a few volunteers were hard at work conserving and protecting two of our favorite botanical areas and places of deep concern: Eight Dollar Mountain in the Illinois Valley and Alex Hole on the Siskiyou Crest. These two areas are rich in botanical biodiversity, and also threatened by poor management and misuse. Our dedicated team of volunteers and staffers have been working on restoration projects at both sites.
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In Congress, several bills have been introduced to respond to the current fires burning in the West. Read a summary of the bills and find out how KS Wild ranks them for effective fire management policy.
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