Category Archives: Conservation

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

Sportsmen-Legislators, Conservation Groups Discuss Federal Forest Policy

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Today, members of the sportsmen’s conservation community gathered with Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) at a Breakfast Briefing, titled, “The Resilient Federal Forests Act: Wildlife Habitat and Forest Diversity,” hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).

Speakers addressed issues from funding, increasing litigation, and complicated regulations to wildlife habitat management and public access for outdoor recreation on federal lands, many of which are addressed in H.R. 2647.

CSF President Jeff Crane, CSC Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman (VA), and CSC Vice-Chair Congressman Gene Green (TX) introduced H.R. 2647 and its importance, not only to sportsmen and women, but to all users of public lands.

CSC Member and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Congressman Rob Bishop (UT) addressed the audience. “[Forest management] needs more money to be effective, but that alone is not going to solve the problem. There has to be some substantial changes. The Resilient Federal Forests Act is the first step forward.”

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Conservation, National Parks, Outdoors

Yosemite Nature Notes – Big Trees

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Yosemite National Park is home to some of the oldest trees in North America, the Giant Sequoia. These trees thrive in the Northern California atmosphere, wrapped in warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. The park is thick with vast forests, and they are one of the many attractions of Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite Nature Notes No. 11 spotlights these massive trees and great forests of Yosemite National park. It’s certainly worth the time to watch.

According to the Yosemite Conservancy, this year’s donors have an opportunity to have an extraordinary impact on these big trees. “Contributions from our donors are helping to fund the project to restore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. This is an ambitious, multiyear effort to preserve these majestic trees and reverse 150 years of development by balancing visitor needs with ecological protection.”

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Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

Returning Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep to the heart of Yosemite

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are back in Yosemite’s Cathedral Range after over 100 years of absence!

Between March 26 and April 3, 2015 seven ewes were moved to the Laurel Creek area of Sequoia National Park. During this same time period ten ewes and three rams were were moved from the Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park and released into the cliff habitat of the Cathedral Range in Yosemite National Park. All migrated sheep are in great condition, with nine of the Cathedral Range ewes pregnant (the single non-pregant ewe is a yearling).

From the National Park Press Release:

A multiagency operation was recently concluded that returned two herds of endangered bighorn sheep to locations in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inyo National Forest, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, worked together on the complex operation in the Sierra Nevada.

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Conservation, Hiking - General

Support the PCTA

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Pacific Crest Trail Association is the only organization dedicated to preserving the entire Pacific Crest Trail and the experiences it provides so that you and others have a wild place for personal reflection.  Ensure a place for journeys big and small, and help protect and maintain the Pacific Crest Trail by donating to the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

You can donate to the PCTA HERE.

You can find out more about the PCT HERE.

…and go see the movie Wild with Reese Witherspoon; it’s a good flick!

Here’s Cheryl Strayed’s call for support, asking you to help the Pacific Crest Trail:

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Activities, Conservation, National Forests

Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club Partner for Recreation and Resource Protection

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Volunteers from the Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club have been lending elbow grease to maintaining and repairing established system roads on the Inyo National Forest.

The club, working on their weekends, provides maintenance for OHV road and trails under the direction of the Inyo National Forest. Their efforts augment the work done by forest staff in ensuring that a high-quality experience can be found on the forest’s OHV system roads.

“The club tries to have fun on these outings, mixing the volunteer work with an opportunity for club members to have an outing and enjoy the beautiful Inyo National Forest,” said Mike Johnston, president of the Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club. “The result is increased sense of stewardship for areas that many of us already know and love through recreational activities.”

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