2018 Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County, California
Photo credit: USDA

Meeting Date: 

• Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm

March 18, 2024 - The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is hosting a series of webinars,  Indicators of Climate Change: Bridging Science and Action, as part of its efforts to track and report on climate change and its impacts on California. Each webinar will synthesize new science and data, and showcase state, local, Tribal or community actions on a selected climate change topic. OEHHA will co-convene each webinar with one or more state agency partners with responsibilities relating to the topic. 

Webinar #1: Impacts on vegetation and wildfires

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm 

Register on Zoom to join the webinar. 

This webinar is the first in the series, co-convened with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). It will address the impacts of climate change on California’s forests and woodlands, with a focus on wildfires. 

AGENDA

Opening remarks/Introductions 

Jamie Lydersen, Senior Environmental Scientist, CAL FIRE Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) 

California’s Forests and Rangelands – Climate Change Indicators from the 2024 Assessment 
This presentation will provide a summary of the climate change related findings from the upcoming 2024 CAL FIRE FRAP Forest and Rangeland Assessment. Topics will include climate, fire and forest related indicators, as well as a discussion of responses and opportunities. 

Frank Lake, Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Tribal Liaison

California Tribal Approaches: Adapting to climate change and fostering socio-ecological resilient forests
This presentation will include examples of conducting research and working with northwestern California Tribes to understand how climate change is impacting forests, Tribal approaches for climate adaptation, and processes for building resiliency through Indigenous knowledge, fire and forest and forest stewardship. 

Ryan Tompkins, UC Cooperative Extension Forest & Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources 

(Title TBD. This presentation will discuss the role of land managers in reforestation and promoting forest ecological resilience, particularly practices that promote resilience in the face of climate change-fueled wildfire.)

Mario Dagonel, Senior Manager of Community Organizing, Tree People  

(Title TBD. This presentation will discuss the role of communities in urban and mountain forestry projects to adapt to climate change and build resilience.)

Q&A and discussion 

Closing comments; next webinar 
Source: California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)