From the Sierra Nevada Alliance
The Sierra Nevada Alliance will be holding its 15th Annual Conference and Anniversary Celebration September 12-14 at the North Tahoe Conference Center in Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe. This year’s conference theme is Leading in a Climate of Change: Hot Topics, Cold Facts and New Answers for the Sierra. The Sierra Nevada, while an international icon sported on hundreds of products, has often been seen by those within and without the region as California’s poor stepchild. Rural with a limited population but a wealth of natural resources, the region has been exploited and frequently left out of key statewide decisions. But after fifteen years of excellent research articles and reports, strong efforts establishing a new state agency dedicated to the region, a united regional conservation movement of over 100 groups, and myriad collaborations with diverse stakeholders, the stepchild days are over. Come discuss how the region, conservation groups and Sierrans can now lead in a changing climate. Join others to celebrate our past 15 years and strategize together how to save the Sierra, be a leading region in adapting to climate change, achieve sustainable communities and contribute to saving the world.
The conference features inspirational speakers, eight cutting edge conservation workshops, top notch networking and more. Reporter Tom Knudson, whose 1991 Pulitzer Prize winning series in the Sacramento Beeentitled “Sierra in Peril” was the impetus for the Alliance’s formation, will be speaking on Saturday morning. Award-winning author and photographer Tim Palmer will present a slide show of beautiful photographs from his new book Luminous Mountains: The Sierra Nevada of California at the opening reception on Friday night. Talented biologist and Sierra field guide author John Muir Laws will be leading a Friday afternoon hike focused on sketching, art instruction and nature study to jump start folks in keeping nature/travel journals.
Also on Friday is the Sierra Nevada Yard and Garden Summit, where Sierra homeowners, organizations, and agencies will learn tips and techniques for creating a conservation-minded landscape that defends against wildfire, is in harmony with Sierra wildlife, reduces pollution, deters invasive weeds, and conserves water. One Summit track is for organizations/agencies interested in starting their own homeowner consultation program. The other track teaches individual homeowners practical tips for creating the yard and garden of their dreams while protecting the Sierra. This workshop is not included in the regular conference registration fee. The cost for this daylong workshop is $15 and includes lunch.
Saturday and Sunday are filled with informative and interactive workshops on topics that include: Sierra Then and Now-15 Year Retrospective; Cutting Edge Alliances; Meadows and Climate Change-A Winning Adaptation Tool; Native Sierrans-Leading Sierra Change; and, Opportunity or Crisis: Forest Management and Climate Change. Saturday evening there is the Sierra Nevada Alliance Anniversary Party to celebrate the Alliance and its partners’ conservation victories throughout the Sierra.
It will be a wonderful weekend full of inspiring speakers, great workshops, fun filled trips and terrific networking! For more detailed information about registration and the conference schedule, go to www.sierranevadaalliance.org/conference or call the Alliance office at 530.542.4546.
