California Board of Forestry & Fire Protection

Proponents of vegetation treatment projects using the CEQA streamlining provisions of the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) and Program Environmental Impact Report (Program EIR) are proposing one or more specialized technologies in combination with or wholly in place of pile burning to process portions of biomass created by the treatments. Most proposals to date focus on portable equipment that can be brought to a treatment area for set up and operation during vegetation treatment to reduce distance and cost of biomass transport to the processing site. This paper evaluates the potential for specialized biomass processing technologies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria air pollutant emissions, compared to the conventional biomass processing method of pile burning. Pile burning is among the biomass disposal methods included in the CalVTP and covered in the Program EIR, which was certified in December 2019.

Learn more about the CalVTP HERE.

Join the Range Management Advisory Committee and Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch Fuels Management Training Program on Thursday, March 16, 2023 8:30am-4:00pm, to learn more increasing the use of targeted grazing from the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) and Star Creek Land Stewards. Participants will improve their understanding of why people might choose targeted grazing as part of a vegetation management and fuels reduction strategy, and how that gets implemented. 

For more information and to register, click HERE.

CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention (WP) Grants Program provides funding for wildfire prevention projects and activities in and near fire threatened communities that focus on increasing the protection of people, structures, and communities. In this webinar, CALFIRE and UC Extension specialists explained the ins and outs of applying for the current WP Grant cycle (open now through March 15th!) to fund prescribed grazing projects. Details discussed included the application process, when a grazing plan is required, the basics of grazing for fuel reduction, matching graziers to grazing projects, and considerations when planning grazing projects for wildfire fuel mitigation.

For more information, including links to presentations and the video recording, look for the “Workshops” header on the Range Management Advisory Committee webpage.

The Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation is requesting nominations for one Academic Member.  Nominations are due by 5:00 pm, Friday, February 3, 2023.

Fresno Co Tree Mortality Task Force & Long-Time Fire Fighter Awarded for Outstanding Contributions to CA Forestry

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) Strategic Plan is updated on a three-year cycle and approved by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board). The Strategic Plan documents the Adaptive Management framework utilized by the EMC and the Board to evaluate the impacts of the Forest Practice Rules and associated regulations based on the results of EMC-funded scientific research, as well as the process to adapt rules and regulations to new information. The 2022 Strategic Plan was adopted by the Board on November 2, 2022.

The board is requesting public comment at the regularly scheduled board meeting in December. Deadline is 5pm on October 14, 2022.

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) seeks to fill up to four (6) vacancies on the Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC). The Call for Applications will be open until all seats are filled.

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) Annual Report and Workplan (Report) is a living document which is updated and approved by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) annually and is intended to catalogue the yearly accomplishments and status of ongoing EMC efforts.

Watch the videos for the Third Annual Sustainable Management of California's Fire-Prone Landscapes: Grazing for Community Resilience.

Resolution approving a suspension on local ordinance certification pending adoption of statutorily required amendments to the SRA fire safe regulations.