For the vast Sierra Nevada, it’s more important than ever to see
the forest for the trees. And in one area of the Sierra National
Forest that bigger picture includes preserving forest health,
safeguarding communities from wildfire, improving wildlife
habitat and creating local jobs. All of those goals are part of
a unique forest restoration project underway in the Dinkey area
of the Sierra National Forest – a popular recreation destination
just east of Fresno. It is hoped that the lessons learned here
can serve as a blueprint to improve the health of other forests.
The science-based program, known as the Dinkey Collaborative
Restoration Project, is focused on 154,000 acres of forests,
meadows, lakes, rivers and chaparral. The Wilderness Society is
one of the project’s many diverse partners, which also includes
a lumber mill, a utility company, a regional air pollution
agency, California Native American tribes, local fire safe
councils, the U.S. Forest Service, nonprofit organizations and
several universities.