Last week, The Sierra Fund and other conservation organizations from across the Sierra gathered for this important annual convening. CEO Izzy’s Martin’s keynote was a conference highlight!
From the Sierra Nevada Alliance
On September 25-26, 2015 over 120 Sierra conservationists attended the Sierra Nevada Alliance 21st Conference in Kings Beach, California. Attendees included local, State, and Federal level agencies, technical experts, scientists, and representatives of the Alliance’s member groups.
Conference attendees heard from Sierra experts, as well as State and local leaders about how the conference themes of Climate Change, Drought and Water Policy, Forest Management Practices, and Sierra Natural Capital and Environmental Markets are impacting the Sierra.
Keynote speaker, Elizabeth Martin, CEO of The Sierra Fund, urged the Alliance and its member groups to help increase the visibility of Sierra regional issues in the California State Legislature. As Ms. Martin pointed out, the Sierra region has very few voices in Sacramento due to a small population, yet the Sierra provides 60% of California’s water, hosts millions of visitors per year, but receives only a fraction of State funding intended for conservation and restoration.
Conference attendees also participated in an informal question and answer session with the Alliance Board of Directors, as well as a facilitated planning session to advise the Sierra Nevada Alliance staff and Board of Directors on its 2015/16 work plan.
The event concluded with a graduation ceremony for 28 members of the 2014/15 Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) program. The Alliance conducts the SNAP program, which assigns members to different conservation agencies and organizations throughout the Sierra Nevada for on the job training in watershed restoration and education.
