Registration Open for the 2026 Forestry Applications of GIS Workshops. These 2 day trainings will introduce participants to data management, cartography, spatial analysis, and participant-driven topics. Workshops provide a mixture of presentations from GIS specialists and hands-on practice with the ESRI platform.
Trainings are hosted in collaboration with local partners including community colleges, RCDs, and professional forestry firms to support an applied, experiential learning environment. Participants are encouraged to bring their own project data, tools, and laptops to receive individualized assistance from instructors. $60 registration fee includes lunch.
RCD staff interested in attending may contact CARCD for more information.
- March 23-24, 2026, Sierra College, 5100 Sierra College Blvd, Rocklin, CA, Room V-318
April 9 -10, 2026, Shasta College, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA 96003
2026 GIS Workshop Series is supported by the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts and the Renewable Resources Extension Act.
Presentations
- What is GIS/GPS?
- Geospatial data considerations
- Data sources
Hands-On Exercises
- Accessing data in ArcGIS
- Querying data by location and attributes
- Creating a map for export
- and much more...
GIS Curriculum
UCCE has developed a series of self-paced technical exercises to aid natural resources professionals in gaining practical GIS experience. While it is recommended to practice these lessons during one of UCCE's in-person trainings, these training materials are provided for self-paced instruction. Examples utilize forest landscapes and forest management scenarios to assist professionals with a reference guide when developing forest maps. Fill out this form to access the GIS curriculum.
Curriculum Contents:
- Forest GIS 01: Basics with Data
- Forest GIS 02: Basic Maps and Symbology
- Forest GIS 03: Scripting Repetitive Tasks
- Forest GIS 04: Advanced Cartography
- Forest GIS 05: Field Collection
Background
Surveying and documenting forest features is a core requirement of forest management planning. State and federal laws require landowners and managers to identify and evaluate sensitive areas and forest resources. Accurately locating these features is critical for assessing potential impacts, developing mitigation measures, and determining management opportunities.
To learn more, see Forest Stewardship Series 26: Mapping Forest Features.
