Southern Sierra Science Symposium planned for Visalia

Porterville, CA….. Four land management agencies are proud to announce the First Southern Sierra Science Symposium, September 4-5, in Visalia, California at the Visalia Convention Center, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The theme for the symposium is "Agents of Change Affecting the Southern Sierra Ecosystems." This event will bring together premier scientists for what will be an outstanding educational and networking opportunity.

The science symposium will be organized around broad scale environmental "agents of change" affecting the Southern Sierra Ecosystems which include giant sequoia groves. The array of topics focus on five areas or agents of change: climate change, fire, forest management, pollutants and invasive species.

Day 1 of the symposium is open to the public and kicks off with keynote speaker Dr. Anthony L. Westerling from the University of California, Merced. Welcome by Tina Terrell, Forest Supervisor, Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument and Craig Axtell, Superintendent, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks.

The day full agenda will include facilitated science panel presentations based on resource areas or ecosystem topics. At days end there will be clarification on what are the research gaps and challenges facing the southern Sierra Nevada ecosystems in relation to climate change.

Exhibits and poster sessions will be on display with additional related science topics dealing with: fire behavior and ecology, invasive species, air/water pollution, climate change, forest management practices and the social aspects of natural resource management.

Day 2 will include a committee of scientists and resource managers working to develop a research plan for the Southern Sierra Nevada. This will include an overall outline for the research needs, a priority list, identification of the next step in the collaborative process, and an initial working group to initiate next steps. This workday is not open to the public; however the draft research plan will be available to the public.

Day 3 will provide an opportunity to attend the Celebrate Sequoias Festival, Saturday, September 6, on the Hume Lake Ranger District of the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Speakers will include:

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST WILDFIRE IN CALIFORNIA
ANTHONY WESTERLING - Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced