The North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP) is a unique coalition of North Coast Tribes and seven counties that represent the North Coast and Klamath/Interior Coast Ranges ecological regions, both of which are important carbon storage areas in California. To help protect the health of forests in this territory, the NCRP is using $4,037,500 of California Climate Investments funding through the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program to develop a regional priority plan that will generate implementation‑ready projects and provide funding for demonstration projects.
The Regional Forest and Fire Capacity program is helping communities throughout the state create plans that prioritize, develop, and implement projects to increase regional fire resiliency and improve forest health. The NCRP is creating a plan for the North Coast that, according to staff member Cybelle Immit, “Will include a comprehensive and integrated set of strategies, actions, and projects to support forest, watershed and community health, and long‑term resilience to wildfire.”
In addition to these regional planning efforts, NCRP is building capacity for forest treatments through demonstration projects. So far, they have awarded funds to 13 demonstration projects with the hopes that they will help increase the scope and scale of multi‑benefit forest management in the North Coast region.
In one demonstration project, the Karuk Tribe is broadening and strengthening a network of tribal fire practitioners who will utilize prescribed fire as a tool for achieving long‑term forest and ecosystem health. The project will serve as a model for region‑wide training.
The Scott River Watershed Council is also carrying out a fuel reduction treatment on 80 acres near the city of Etna that will create biochar for distribution to local agricultural producers. The project demonstrates the benefits of using large‑scale and efficient carbonator technology.