This may belong in Chaff…but since it is so pointedly aimed at the preservation of the Sierra: If you love the Sierra and want to do what's best for it, the place to start is with a group of well-informed scientists who have studied the issues for years and can make recommendations based on facts, studies, and research, rather than pure greed or the heat of emotion alone. Happily, that's exactly what the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center does. And they go beyond that, getting involved at an advocacy level with many issues that arise in the complex ecosystems of the Sierra. The latest (Fall 2015) newsletter from CSERC has really excellent articles on: >> Plans and efforts to replant the devastation of the Rim Fire in a way that will be truly sustainable and effectively replace the natural ecosystem. CSERC argues for a more diverse and less dense planting system that would re-create the natural ecosystem of the forest, rather than the very dense, intense plantings favored by lumber companies. Among the benefits of the more natural system would be a more sustainable and diverse ecosystem, and better resistance to massive fire damage created by dense, drought intolerant "tree farms." >> Plans to divert water from the Tuolumne River system during the current drought, which have now become part of longer-term diversion. While CSERC supported the initial steps to avert drought disaster, they are very concerned that such long-term diversion would have a damaging effect to the Central Sierra. >> A call for more discussion and protection of delicate areas from snowmobile access in the winter. Perhaps most telling in this article is the concern that if snowmobiles are allowed free access to some of the most isolated sectors of the Stanislaus Forest in winter, those areas might no longer be considered for Wilderness protection in the future. >> CSERC'S role in doing photo surveys of wildlife in the Rim Fire areas–complete with a photo of a American marten and a gray fox climbing a tree! Check it out: http://www.cserc.org/ If you like what you see and want to help out, you can donate money or simply volunteer for some of their work projects. Contact [email protected] or call 209 586 7440 for more information.
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