PEOPLE AND THE SIERRA NEVADA ISSUE STATEMENT

Humans have traveled through and lived in the Sierra Nevada for centuries. The early influence of native Californians on fire patterns and the translocation of plants has been documented (Anderson and Moratto 1996). With the arrival of European settlers, interests in mining, timber, livestock grazing, and water development were established and the land further shaped by the demands placed on it. Today, humans live in, make a living from, recreate in and seek solace from the Sierra Nevada ecosystem. There is little dispute that humans have altered the Sierra Nevada environment in ways that are not sustainable. The demands on water for consumptive uses and the suppression of fire are just two examples of the ways that humans have impeded essential cycles and processes in the name of deriving social and economic benefits. Our goal is to live in balance with the Sierra Nevada ecosystem and not at its expense. To that end, we adopt in this conservation strategy the principle that land management will be designed to meet “human needs without compromising the health of ecosystems ” (Callicott and Mumford 1997). Public Safety People live, work and recreate within and adjacent to national forest lands in the Sierra Nevada. Our challenge is to design ways for people to safely enjoy the outdoors and benefit from forest resources while protecting and restoring the health of the ecosystem. One of the most prevalent public safety concerns is related to wildfire. The protection of life and property is often foremost in the minds of those who live and work in the Sierra Nevada. It is the responsibility of the community as a whole to provide for a safe environment. Individual land owners and managers, including the Forest Service, are responsible for maintaining a fire resilient environment near their structures and including the structures themselves. Forest roads necessary for egress during emergencies also need to be maintained in a fire resilient condition that allows passage. Recreationists, forest workers, and other forest visitors also are responsible to conduct their activities in ways that are fire-cautious and that do not introduce fire risk into the environment