Sierra Nevada Conservancy Mission

1. Sierra Nevada Conservancy Mission • The SNC’s mission is to initiate, encourage and support efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and people of California.

2. The Sierra Nevada Region • 25 million acres, about ¼ of the state; • One of the state’s least densely populated areas; approximately 600,000 residents; • Most of the population is centered around primary transportation corridors (I 80, Hwy 50 and Hwy 49); • With increased focus on Great Valley growth, area could become a key target area for new growth.

3. Key Challenges for SN Region • Lack of sustainable economic activity; • Threat of unsustainable development; • Threat of catastrophic fire; • Impacts of climate change.

4. Consequences of More People • Impact on infrastructure • Impact on habitat/natural resources • Increased fire risk • Impacts on air and water quality • Increased demand for recreation and tourism • Increased pressure on working landscapes • All of the above happen to be included in the mission of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy

5. The Conservancy’s Role • Develop and Implement Strategic Conservation Approaches • Northern Sierra Partnership • Assist Communities in Sustainable Growth Strategies • Access to important resource information, modeling and funding

6. The Conservancy’s Role • Create Economic Activity Dependent on the Natural Resource Base • Recreation and tourism • Preserving Working Landscapes (ranches, forests and farms) • Identify “Ecosystem Services” flowing from the region and appropriately invest in the region to protect and sustain those benefits

7. Create Economic Activity Dependent on the Natural Resource Base • Need to connect sustainable land management practices to local economic vitality; • Sustainable forest management practices will reduce the risk of catastrophic fire (and emissions), protect water quality and habitat and improve carbon storage; • Need to understand the infrastructure and investment needed to achieve this objective;

8. Key areas of opportunity on which to focus our efforts • Production of renewable energy from woody biomass; • Production of “value added” wood products; • Sequestration of carbon; • Support of heritage, place-based tourism (geo tourism); • Support of “buy local” programs.

9. What is the end game? • Promoting and implementing policies that connect communities’ economic well-being with the sustainable management of the area’s natural resources will contribute greatly to “smart growth.”

10. How do we do it? • Better Use of information – GIS, etc. • Educate Decision Makers at all levels • Connect the dots between resource protection and economic viability; • Recognize the multiple benefits that result form such an approach. • Identify and support on-the-ground projects that illustrate this connection • Use all available tools and create those that don’t exist