Bringing research and outreach to forest landowners.
The Central Sierra forestry program seeks to provide the latest research-based information from the University of California to residents, non-profits, and staff of local, state, and federal agencies.
Susie Kocher is the Forestry Advisor for the Central Sierra area. Susie is a Registered Professional Forester with a background in forestry, stream restoration, monitoring and sociology and has worked for Cooperative Extension for 24 years, in South Lake Tahoe since September 2006. On-going projects:
- Conducting forest stewardship workshops throughout California to help landowners develop plans and management their forests
- Increasing the capacity of private landowners to carry out prescribed fire in the Sierra
- Conducting reforestation workshops for landowners affected by wildfire and tree mortality
- Training Master Gardeners to answer questions on tree mortality from the public
- Coordinating input to the tree mortality data collection network
- Collaboration with the California Fire Science Consortium
- Maintenance of the University of California Forest Research and Outreach website
Past projects:
- 2010 - 2013 Collaborating with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Living with Fire program to organize the Lake Tahoe Basin Wildfire Awareness Week and wildfire summit
- 2007 - 2015 Monitoring of the recovery of the Angora fire area in collaboration with the California Tahoe Conservancy
- 2008 - 2015 Coordinating public involvement in the Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project
- 2009 - Developing Voluntary Revegetation Guidelines for Private Parcels in the Angora burn area with a group of affected homeowners
- 2007 Conducting a Needs Assessment to identify extension and outreach needs
Forestry events/workshops:
- Check this page for a list of past forestry workshops/events.
- Check this page for upcoming events
Forestry publications:
- Check this page for forestry publications.
Ideas for collaboration or educational programming are welcome. Please contact:
Susie Kocher, University of California Cooperative Extension-Central Sierra, 1061 3rd Street, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, Phone: 530-542-2571, E-mail: sdkocher@ucanr.edu
Forest Research & Outreach Blog
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Deciduous Oak Woodland Restoration Permitting Options
California's forests and woodlands are always changing, and it takes time for California's regulatory framework to catch up to what's happening. After years of fire suppression, it is now common to see encroaching conifers (e.g., Douglas-fir) trees...
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UC ANR Forestry Team Welcomes Ali Azadfar, new Biomass and Forest Products Advisor
This fall, UC ANR's forestry team welcomed new Biomass and Forest Products Advisor Ali Azadfar to the Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity communities. Azadfar to comes to UC ANR's Siskiyou office with research and teaching experiences shaped by diverse...
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Ryan Tompkins Wins Award for Outstanding Contributions to California Forestry
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) Forestry Advisor Ryan Tompkins was posthumously awarded the Francis H. Raymond Award by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) on November 6, 2024. This award is...
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Whitebark Pine Monitoring Continues at Lassen Volcanic National Park
Early one morning this fall, three National Park Service researchers from the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network (KLMN) scrambled over minivan-sized boulders on a remote butte in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Their goal...
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New California Agriculture article highlights effects of prescribed fire on young Sierra Nevada Mixed-Conifers
California's forests have long been adapted to fire, where the presence of regular, low-severity fires helped maintain forest health. After decades of fire suppression, many private forest landowners are interested in reintroducing fire to their...
California Family Forest
Sharing the vision and passion of California forest landowners
Forest Health
In 2015/16, many trees began dying throughout the central Sierra Nevada. This link connects to a webpage with information, publications and resources for dealing with tree mortality in the central Sierra.