Stanislaus National Forest signs the SERAL Project ROD-2

SONORA, CALIF. (June 29, 2022) – Over the past few decades, the lands we rely on for clean water, recreation opportunities, habitat, natural resources, clean air and much more have increasingly been impacted by insect, disease and drought mortality, wildland fire, exacerbated by climate change. These impacts have altered ecosystem function and resiliency. While the challenges to reduce these impacts are great, through our research partners and collaborative network, we have enhanced our shared understanding of the type and scale of treatments necessary to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fire, insect, disease and drought mortality.

As such, we are very pleased to announce the second Record of Decision (“ROD-2”) titled “A Significant Step Toward Resiliency” of the Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) project on the Stanislaus National Forest was signed by Jason Kuiken this morning (June 29, 2022). This project, developed through wonderful collaboration with Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions (YSS), was designed to restore forest resilience and reduce the landscapes susceptibility to negative effects of natural disturbances.

“The SERAL project was developed through a collective, collaborative effort of numerous community members, collaborative partners, research experts, and Forest Service employees. SERAL came to fruition after many years of individual, smaller scale efforts. And through this collaborative effort we have been able to better understand and address a plethora of varied interests and concerns to leverage all of the knowledge, past experiences, new technologies, new planning tools, and new relationships into a project that is designed to affect real change on the landscape. The actions I am authorizing in this decision chart a new course to success. As is often said, the sum is worth more than the parts and this decision is proof of that philosophical standard,” said Jason Kuiken, Stanislaus National Forest – Forest Supervisor and SERAL’s Responsible Official.

“A healthy and resilient forest holds the key to wildlife conservation, providing world class recreation and attracting visitors to our shared public lands, which is critical to our local and regional economy. For our affected community, the work to achieve and maintain the project’s objectives will provide the raw material for local timber and biomass facilities for years to come. The actions implemented through this SERAL Decision will ensure that the places we work and play in are more able to withstand an uncertain future, and the project will be a model that forests across the western United States can adopt,” said Kuiken.

As part of the NEPA process, the FEIS and ROD were updated during the Administrative Review Process. The total, there is much to be proud of collectively for the thoughtful consideration, engagement, and attention that went into this effort.

To view the updated FEIS and the Decision signed today (“ROD-2”) visit the project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56500