Sierra Institute for Community and Environment

Originally operating in the back of a winery in Westwood, California, The Sierra Institute, formerly known as Forest Community Research, relocated to Taylorsville, California in 1996. The Sierra Institute works with rural people, from newly arrived immigrants to long-time county residents, along with organizations and government agencies to design and facilitate processes that help us understand and build collaboration for sustainable community development and stewardship of our natural resources. We have a diverse project set which includes leading educational natural resources tours, collaborating with the local high school to expose students to natural resources, and convening health partners in the county to increase services. We work hard to bridge what we learn through these local projects to what is happening in state and national policy-making.
Research, education, and community collaboration are the tools of our trade. Our work ranges from researching the outcomes of a national law on rural communities, to leading tours on the land to showcase rural people’s involvement in taking care of forests, meadows and waterways, to facilitating assessments and bilingual dialogues about health care, to bringing updated telemedicine equipment to rural communities, to testifying in the halls of Congress.
Connections... What's happening in and around Sierra Institute
California Woody Renewables...February 15, 2012

A Summit to Revitalize Rural Communities and Restore Forests
We all recognize the need to restore forest ecological resilience, create economic opportunities, and improve rural forest communities. What links us is also the recognition that a focus on utilization of woody renewables, offers a powerful way to accomplish all three. Read More...
Also...
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The Center of Forestry has announced their tours for 2012...all of your favorite tours and more are back again! Read more...
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Finding more economically feasible and beneficial uses for woody debris, or biomass, from forest projects is the goal of an agreement between the Plumas National Forest and the Sierra Institute. Read more... |
The Center of Forestry Supporter Matches Year-End Donations!

Support for the Center of Forestry is more important than ever right now! A very special supporter has offered to double Center of Forestry gifts between now and January 31st. Read More... |

The Plumas County Public Health Agency and the Sierra Institute traveled to Chester in early December to solicit public feedback on perceived health issues within the Lake Almanor Basin. Read more... |
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