CCLT is proud to join a new coalition of organizations to form the Wildfire Solutions Coalition (WSC), a groundbreaking alliance of cross-sector leaders and organizations throughout the state to secure long-term, sustained funding for wildfire mitigation and resilience and to fully implement California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
Wildfires are a natural part of many California landscapes. But due to several factors including fire suppression, land management practices, and climate change, the intensity and frequency of wildfires have reached dangerous levels. With better preparation and management, landscapes and communities can once again experience fire as a natural and beneficial process.
The Wildfire Solutions Coalition is calling for a dedicated, long-term funding mechanism to support proven fire prevention strategies at scale, including:
- Forest and vegetation management
- Community hardening and defensible space
- Workforce development and good, green jobs
- Tribal-led cultural burning and stewardship
“As land trusts throughout the state invest in permanently protecting and stewarding millions of acres of land, supporting wildfire resilience at scale will protect these investments in the face of increasing drought, and other extreme weather events,” said Caroline Godkin, Executive Director of the California Council of Land Trusts. “Protecting these lands will safeguard biodiversity, wildlife corridors while supporting water and air quality as well as providing opportunities for public access to open spaces.”
The growing WSC coalition currently includes over 25 organizations representing from water, fire, business, and environmental advocates with a focus on proactive, science-based solutions that protect communities, landscapes, and the wildland-urban interface from the increasing threat of catastrophic wildfires. For additional information on the coalition’s members, advocacy materials and campaign updates, please visit: wildfiresolutionsca.org