Pepperwood Foundation

This project will enable us to promote Sonoma County as a demonstration site for wildfire hazard reduction best practices as part of a comprehensive approach to climate adaptation. As leaders on the county's Hazard Mitigation and Community Wildfire Protection Plans, we are using Sonoma as a laboratory for generating high-resolution fire hazard management solutions with decision-makers. These evidence-based tools, including a Wildfire Fuel Mapper application, are already being used as a model for other counties based on their success. This project will boost our capacity to prepare for and respond to wildfire emergencies. Battery Powered resources will empower us to expand cutting-edge solutions for preventing catastrophic wildfire through better sensor networks, land stewardship, and municipal policies throughout California. We’ll be able to expand on the work we’re already doing: - Synthesizing wildfire data - Generating actionable recommendations for agencies and communities - Disseminating best practices for restoring a healthy fire regime - Sharing climate and fire science with educators, landowners and community leaders - Demonstrating wildfire-smart and Indigenous land stewardship on our lands, including prescribed fire, conservation grazing, forest thinning, and native plant restoration - Building on our work as a science advisor to Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties By harnessing the power of big data, we build collaborative, coordinated, and pragmatic wildfire resilience strategies to save lives, protect property and restore ecosystems. The model we will refine for Sonoma County over the next 24 months will be applicable to California as a whole and Mediterranean, fire-adapted regions worldwide.