Course for forest landowners, Sept. 6 to Nov. 1, aims to boost wildfire resilience
“UCCE broke things down into small pieces, and staff were always an email away,” said a past participant. Eager to provide a relevant and approachable learning experience, UCCE hopes that landowners come away with a holistic understanding of the management process. (Photo by ANGELA BENITO on Unsplash)
SAN BERNARDINO CO., Calif. — Forest landowners seeking to make their forests resilient to wildfire are encouraged to participate in a Forest Stewardship Workshop series from Sept. 6 to Nov. 1, hosted by University of California Cooperative Extension. The workshops will take place in San Bernardino County and are open to landowners living in and outside of San Bernardino.
During this nine-week series comprising virtual sessions and a field day, participants will learn about their forests and connect with natural resource professionals in their areas. Upon completing the course, landowners will also be eligible for a free site visit from a local Registered Professional Forester, Certified Range Manager or California Certified Burn Boss to create a personalized forest management plan.
The content is applicable to all forest landowners and will highlight information from the local Resource Conservation District, UCCE forestry advisors, CAL FIRE, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other natural resources community leaders.
Workshop topics include:
- Defensible space and fire ecology
- Forest ecology and vegetation management
- Financial planning and cost-sharing opportunities
- Targeted grazing
- Goldspotted oak borer management
Past participants highly recommend the workshop, with 98% of 2022 participants rating the series overall as “excellent” or “very good.” Similarly, 94% of past participants reported having a greater awareness of applying for and utilizing cost-sharing programs.
“UCCE broke things down into small pieces, and staff were always an email away,” said a past participant. Eager to provide a relevant and approachable learning experience, UCCE hopes that landowners come away with a holistic understanding of the management process.
The workshop will take place in a hybrid setting, with weekly classes online via Zoom. Participants will also engage in practical learning through a field day, where they can meet other cohort members and UCCE professionals at an outdoor field location.
Registration fee is $60 for the workshop series, and scholarship funding is available.
Community members in San Bernardino County interested in forest management, forest and fire ecology, and related topics are encouraged to register: http://ucanr.edu/
Forest landowners across California can learn about upcoming workshops in their areas, as well as additional resources, publications and videos: https://ucanr.edu/sites/
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings the power of UC to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.
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