Forest Focus

Put your seatbelt on and hold on tight. In this episode, we ride along with the Joaquin Jeepers, a 4x4 club based out of Stockton, California, and an official partner with the Stanislaus National Forest, on their adopted trail, Slick Rock. The club shares their outdoor ethics, how they care for their trail, their relationship with the Forest Service and their passion in keeping OHV trails open to offroad enthusists. This episode is also available as a videocast, which can be watched here: https://usda-fs.wistia.com/medias/j3o1eke8ux

This is the fifth and final installment of a miniseries about amphibian conservation and determination called For the Frogs. In each episode, we will meet to one native amphibian that can be found in California's national forests. These creatures are important to ecological health and can deepen our connections with public lands, but they are also in a state of decline. Fortunately, a village of specialists are devoted to conserving these species. The stories of their resolute conservation efforts, pursued through obstacles and setbacks, provides portraits of determination that we can pocket and apply to our own personal experiences with adversity. This time, we meet the mountain yellow-legged frog and tag along during a reintroduction of this endangered species to the Angeles National Forest. Transcript and show notes available here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/home/?cid=FSEPRD1217273

This is the fourth installment of a miniseries about amphibian conservation and determination called For the Frogs. In each episode, we will meet to one native amphibian that can be found in California's national forests. These creatures are important to ecological health and can deepen our connections with public lands, but they are also in a state of decline. Fortunately, a village of specialists are devoted to conserving these species. The stories of their resolute conservation efforts, pursued through obstacles and setbacks, provides portraits of determination that we can pocket and apply to our own personal experiences with adversity. This time, we meet the Yosemite toad and leap into long-term monitoring, a process of investigation that tracks changes in frog populations. Transcript and show notes available here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/home/?cid=FSEPRD1208464 

In our 50th episode we turn back towards Nature's Benefits and cut further into Timber and Wood Products by discussing Wood Innovations and Biomass Utilization with a program specialist from the Pacific Southwest Regional Office. We talk grants, mass timber, forward-thinking projects, tribal initiatives, urban forestry and more with guests from the Angeles National Forest and a sawmill owner in Los Angeles. Pacific Southwest Region's Wood and Biomass Utilization Program National USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations For tons more information (Forest Focus Ep. 50 Homepage)

We're taking a wilderness walk in recognition of this anniversary year of the 1964 Wilderness Act, which created the National Wilderness Preservation System. But long before the Wilderness Act, and long before we were even using the word "wilderness", these lands were used and stewarded by Indigenous communities. So, designated wilderness areas are both Tribal homelands and places for recreation. Taking a walk in these lands is an opportunity to think about wilderness means to us, which can help us connect to nature and each other. Show Notes Available HERE. Transcript Available HERE.

This is the third installment of a miniseries about amphibian conservation and determination called For the Frogs. In each episode, we will meet to one native amphibian that can be found in California's national forests. These creatures are important to ecological health and can deepen our connections with public lands, but they are also in a state of decline. Fortunately, a village of specialists are devoted to conserving these species. The stories of their resolute conservation efforts, pursued through obstacles and setbacks, provides portraits of determination that we can pocket and apply to our own personal experiences with adversity. This time, we meet the California red-legged frog and hop into wetland construction. Transcript Available HERE Show Notes Availalbe HERE

This is the second installment of a miniseries about amphibian conservation and determination called For the Frogs. In each episode, we will meet to one native amphibian that can be found in California's national forests. These creatures are important to ecological health and can deepen our connections with public lands, but they are also in a state of decline. Fortunately, a village of specialists are devoted to conserving these species. The stories of their resolute conservation efforts, pursued through obstacles and setbacks, provides portraits of determination that we can pocket and apply to our own personal experiences with adversity. This time, we meet the Cascades frog and learn about a collaborative effort that led to the restoration of an important meadow.  Transcript availalbe HERE Show notes available HERE

This is the first installment of a miniseries about amphibian conservation and determination. We're calling the miniseries For the Frogs. In each episode, we will meet to one native amphibian that can be found in California's national forests. These creatures are important to ecological health, and once we get to know them, they can deepen our connections with public lands. But each of these species is in a state of decline due to overlapping threats, including pathogens, introduced predators, habitat loss, drought and wildfire. Fortunately, there is a village of specialists devoted to conserving these species despite the colossal challenge of the threat supergroup. The stories of their resolute conservation efforts, pursued through obstacles and setbacks, provides portraits of determination that we can pocket and apply to our own personal experiences with adversity. For a transcript, click here.

In this episode, we learn how to snow groom trails. Uh, wait, scratch that, we try to learn. We travel to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in March to meet up with Jeremiah Tabor, a Recreation Technician, and speak to him about his job, seasonal tasks, and how do you get that corduroy look in groomed trails. 

There are portals within many national forests that offer entry into realms of the most curious forms of biodiversity. These underground chambers and hallways are called lava tubes or caves. In these landscapes below the ground, tiny creatures creep in the shadows in costumes of faded hues. Their pallor is paired with neighboring life forms that sparkle when hit by a flashlight, as if dusted with glitter. And these subterranean spaces are also archives that contain records of our Paleolithic and climatic past. To explore within, a readiness for crawling will be required. Fortunately, we have an experienced caver to show us the way.   For a transcript please visit the episode website.