Celebrating Partnerships in the Central Sierra Recovery and Restoration Project | US Forest Service - USDA Forest Service

Editor's note: The USDA Forest Service has committed its efforts to mitigating wildfire risk across 20 million acres of National Forests and up to an additional 30 million acres of other Federal, State, Tribal, and private lands as a part of the agency's 10- year strategy to confront the wildfire crisis.  This article illustrates how working across boundaries will be essential for that success.

Home nestled in the forest of the Sierra Nevada foothills. One in three homes in the United States is now in the Wild Urban Interface, areas where private lands intersect with large areas of fire-adapted vegetation. It is estimated that more than 70,000 communities are at risk across the country in these areas. Photo credit: Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership

Tall. Majestic. Distinct. The landscape of California wouldn't be complete without giant sequoia trees and the USDA Forest Service is focused on ensuring that those species are protected. With the goal of safeguarding this environment, the agency has managed a project in the Sierra National Forest that is critical in reducing the threat of wildfire to local communities and sensitive habitats. The Central Sierra Recovery and Restoration Project is a Joint Chiefs' project that has helped reduce fuel loads and removed hazardous trees in the wildland urban interface.

The Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership enables the National Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Forest Service to collaborate with agricultural producers and forest landowners to invest in conservation and restoration at a large scale. Components of the Central Sierra Recovery and Restoration Project include removing hazardous trees and supporting rural economies in preserving both the scenic rural character and tourism opportunities. The project has had great success, including treating more than 3,100 acres to create defensible space for fire fighters to protect communities during the 2018 Ferguson Fire. helping to save communities and lives during that time.

The project is collaborative, bringing together entities such as Local Resource Conservation Districts, Fire Safe Council, county agencies, public utilities, and state agencies. The Seymour family has resided in Mariposa County since the early 1980s and sought out the program in hopes of removing invasive species, improving forest health, and enhancing wildlife habit. Living locally, they have reaped the benefits.

"From the start, it was an incredible feeling," Elaine Seymour said in a statement. "They take us to another level of caring for our land."

During the project tenure, landowners worked with local U.S. Department of Agriculture experts and partners to apply targeted forestry management practices on their land, such as thinning, hazardous fuel treatments, fire breaks and other systems to meet unique forestry challenges in their area.

"They looked at the property and said it was very defensible," Seymour said. "You can even notice how the trees are prospering. There is no growth and that wouldn't have happened before."

Forest Service staff have seen the impact of the program as well. Working in partnership, the group helps reduce wildfire threats, protect water quality and supply, and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species.

Forest management best practices and partnerships between the Forest Service and NRCS are being shared across the country to restore landscapes, protect water quality, enhance habitat, and reduce the effects of extreme wildfire. Visit the Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership website to learn more.