Sonoma County’s native oak forests and woodlands are under attack and we have a great opportunity to make a real impact in our county’s future.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is currently formulating their 5-year strategic plan and they must include real oak and forest land protections. For decades Sonoma County’s iconic oak forests have been excessively cleared in the name of development and vineyards. Much of this county-permitted cutting is being done without rigorous regard for the ecological importance of native oak and forest lands.
Oak woodlands destruction is an attack on Sonoma County’s wildlife and scenic identity. Residents of Sonoma County can make their voices heard and urge the Board of Supervisors to enact a moratorium on tree cutting, immediately. While vineyards are a landmark of our scenery, so are the native oak forests.
A moratorium on tree cutting is imperative for our native habitats as well as our ecological footprint as a county. If we are to really become carbon neutral by 2050, we need a moratorium on cutting until we have a clearer picture of the situation and have developed a realistic climate-oriented tree ordinance to regulate cutting in the future.
On September 17, 2019, the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County declared a Climate Change Emergency and pledged to support a county-wide framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to pursue local actions that support, among other goals, to protect and enhance the value of open and working lands and increasing carbon sequestration. We need to hold our elected officials to their word via an immediate moratorium. Yes, we need to plant trees to sequester carbon and replace the trees we have lost, but we also need to protect our existing mature forests.
Native woodlands fight climate change with carbon sequestration, storing atmospheric carbon that would otherwise warm the planet. It’s proven that mature forests store significantly more carbon than younger trees. Oak forests sequester carbon in the form of biomass, deadwood, litter and in forest soils. The sink of carbon sequestered in forests helps to offset other sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as deforestation, forest fires, and fossil fuel emissions. We have a powerful tool to fight climate change “right in our backyard,” and we are chopping it down without a careful study of the repercussions.
Oak trees are a keystone species with over 100 species dependent on them. Oaks are the backbone of many different forest communities and provide immeasurable ecosystem services. Oaks are already plagued by sudden oak death in our region so there is absolutely no reason for us to be cutting down healthy, mature carbon sequestering trees that perform so many ecosystem-wide essential services.
Email our County Board of Supervisors and tell them you support a tree clearing moratorium at: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Board-of-Supervisors/Contact-Board-of-Supervisors/
District 1 Susan Gorin – Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org
District 2 David Rabbitt – David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org
District 3 – Chris Coursey – Chris.Coursey@sonoma-county.org
District 4 – James Gore – district4@sonoma-county.org
District 5 – Lynda Hopkins – district5@sonoma-county.org
To get involved or for more information, contact Aja Henry at aja@conservationaction.org
Aja Henry is a Humboldt State graduate and Assistant Field Manager with Sonoma County Conservation Action, she is taking the lead in Conservation Action’s efforts toward tree preservation and climate change resilience in Sonoma County.
Call to Action – Protect Sonoma Oak and Forests Lands
Tell the Board of Supervisors to Place a Temporary Moratorium on Tree Removal in Sonoma County
For decades Sonoma county’s iconic oak forests have been excessively cleared in the name of development without rigorous regard for the ecological importance of native oak and forest lands. Currently we do not know how many acres of Oak forests are being cut down every year.
We are urgently asking the Board of Supervisors to immediately enact a temporary ordinance prohibiting destruction of oak woodlands, pending study of climate, fire, watershed, and habitat impacts.
What You Can Do
Show up (Virtually) on January 26 to the BOS meeting and speak during public comments!
RSVP to our Facebook Event to be alerted when it’s time to comment!
or
Contact the Board of Supervisors
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Board-of-Supervisors/Contact-Board-of-Supervisors/
District 1 Susan Gorin – Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org
District 2 David Rabbitt – David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org
District 3 – Chris Coursey – Chris.Coursey@sonoma-county.org
District 4 – James Gore – district4@sonoma-county.org
District 5 – Lynda Hopkins – district5@sonoma-county.org
Please cc: scca@conservationaction.org
Hold Your Electeds to Their Word!
On September 17, 2019, the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County Declared a Climate Emergency and pledged to support a county-wide framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to pursue local actions that support, among other goals, protecting and enhance the value of open and working lands and increasing carbon sequestration.
On January 26th the Board of Supervisors will meet to set the agenda for the year, it is vital we use the public comment time to ensure that the Board Of Supervisors places a Moratorium on Tree Removal on the upcoming agenda.
Trees play a major role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into biomass through photosynthesis, Oak forests sequester carbon in the form of biomass, deadwood, litter and in forest soils. The sink of carbon sequestered in forests helps to offset other sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as deforestation, forest fires, and fossil fuel emissions.
Talking Points
- Currently Sonoma County is cutting down an unknown number of acres of Oaks and woodlands per year.
- The Oak is a keystone species which is a species that exerts great influence on an ecosystem relative to its abundance. There is more oak tree biomass in Northern America than any other tree group. Oaks are the backbone of many different forest communities and provide immeasurable ecosystem service
- Yes, we need to plant trees, but we also need to protect our existing forests.
- Natural forests store 50% more carbon than planted forests
- Mature forests store significantly more carbon than younger trees.
- We have nearly no protection currently and the trend is increasing.
- We don’t even track the numbers of acres lost, it’s all a one-off approval without an ecosystem-wide view of the situation.
Progressive Persistence
‘Blue/Green Eggs and Ham’ 2020 Election Debrief
Saturday, January 23, 2021, at 10 AM-12 PM PST
Price: Free Public Event
*Registration will be required via Zoom for Comments
https://tinyurl.com/BGEggsandHam
Online with Facebook Live
Co-sponsored by Sonoma County Conservation Action, the North Bay Labor Council, and the Sonoma County Democratic Party.
Every election year since 2000, the Sonoma County labor/environmental/social justice alliance holds a post-election review called (with a nod to Dr. Seuss) ‘Blue/Green Eggs and Ham’. One of the main themes of ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ is persistence, that if you persevere and refuse to give up, you can accomplish your goals in the end.
The moderators interview our Congressional Representatives, County Supervisors, Interim Director of the Ag and Open Space District, all nine Sonoma County Mayors, as well as some newly elected city councilmembers.
Agenda for 2020 Election Retrospective
National (Panel 1) Politics After Trump
Congressmen Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson, SSU Political Science Professor David McCuan, moderated by former California Assemblyman, Michael Allen
Sonoma County (Panel 2) Beyond the Disaster
County Panel featuring Incoming Chair of the Board Lynda Hopkins, Outgoing Chair Susan Gorin, and newly appointed interim General Manager of the Sonoma County Agriculture Preservation and Open Space District Caryl Hart, moderated by Dennis Rosatti (Principal Rosatti Consulting)
Mayors Roundup (Panel 3) Be Aware, Be Active
All nine Sonoma County Mayors discuss upcoming issues and call on us to participate and act in the coming year
Newly Electeds (Panel 4) New Kids on the Block
Newly-elected progressive leaders introduce themselves and show us hope for the future in a post-COVID, post-recession local political landscape
Public Comment Wrap-Up The Public Speaks
Our final segment will feature public comment on the presentations, hosted by Chris Rogers.

Current incident map: The County of Sonoma updates their GIS system to provide a map of the evacuation zones during the fire. This map is interactive, and will be updated regularly. To see the map, click here.
The Sheriff uses zones to announce evacuations. To look at the complete zone map of Sonoma County, click here.
Alert system: To learn about your alert options, sign up for notifications, and learn what different sirens mean, click here.
Know your way out: The City of Santa Rosa has developed an evacuation route planning tool. To add your address and see your best route out in the event of an emergency, click here.
Evacuation check list: We have also developed a check list to help people better prepare for a possible evacuation. To see this checklist, click here.
Cal Fire updates: Cal Fire usually provides two briefings per day – usually 7am and 7pm. Those updates are shared across social media, but can also normally be found by clicking here.
For additional preparedness tips, click here.
Sonoma County Fire Cameras can be found by clicking here.
Evacuation points can be found by clicking here.
We know that the wind can have a devastating impact on our efforts to control the fire. To see a wind map and projections, click here.
To check air quality, click here.
To listen to the live feed of CalFire dispatch, download the Broadcastify app on your phone, and to see all notifications/call for service, download the pulse point app as well.
To see what helicopters and planes we have in the air, click here.
To see NASA’s satellite photos of the fires, click here.

Ann Gray Byrd was the President of the Sonoma County NAACP, won their legacy award, ministered at Community Baptist Church and wrote “Glimpses: A History of African Americans in Santa Rosa

We’re going to keep the fun going by having our Online Silent Auction up the entire month of August. Get great deals on Clothing, an Ecuadorian Vacation, Gift Baskets, Local Crafts, Art, and so much MORE including delicious local WINE!

Resiliency in a wildfire prone area means following fire safe practices around homes. Important work in protecting homes from wildfires remains to be done. For many years, CAFÉ and SCCA have played a key role in accountability and innovation to ensure our community’s long-standing history of environmental innovation. Our outreach in the fire prevention arena helps local residents understand defensible space and vegetation management options.

August 20th Russian River Canoe Trip: Postponed Due to Fire
Spend an amazing late afternoon paddling a 6-mile stretch of the middle reach of the Russian River with Don McEnhill, our Russian Riverkeeper, and Larry Laba, the host, guide and owner of Russian River Adventures. This is the 11th annual Riverkeeper float that Don and Larry have donated to SCCA. It is always popular, and you will come away with an appreciation of how many different environmental issues affect the jewel of Sonoma County, and what Don is doing, and what you can do.
We’ll meet at Wohler Bridge at 3 pm … socially distant bus shuttling to a private launch site off Westside Road, and we’ll paddle back to Wohler in 2-man SOAR Inflatable canoes. It is usually hot when we launch and cool when we finish, so wear your swim shorts, good hat, sunscreen, and llghtweight layers, a good snack and water. Join us as we celebrate this long partnership between the SCCA and the Russian Riverkeeper.
There is a great possibility of seeing excellent bird life, and over the years of offering the SCCA float, participants have seen bald eagles, river otter and bobcat. Who knows what we will see!
Join us for a very fun and enjoyable paddle with like-minded people who truly care about Sonoma County’s rivers, mountains, corridors, and green spaces.
NOTE: River Trip Limit 30 persons. Sliding scale for kids, students.
When: TBD
Where: Wohler Bridge or Memorial Bridge
(You will be contacted with updates before the float)
Price: $50-$150 per Person Sliding Scale

Traditionally, SCCA has hosted our annual Grassroots Gala to celebrate our environmental successes and raise funds for the issues that lie ahead. Though we can’t gather in person this year, we hope you will support us by joining and sponsoring our…
Virtual Online Auction and Gala July 31st, 7:00pm
Your support today will help us keep our waterways, open spaces, and parks healthy, eliminate toxics from schools, provide access to more affordable housing into our urban cores, and help us elect community leaders who are ready to fight for a more sustainable and more equitable future for everyone.
This year our Grass Roots Gala will be held online and includes Awards, Live Chats, and a Short Film! Ticket holders will receive a link to a Zoom that can be viewed on a device at home. Share freely with friends and family.
For Free Tickets Email scca@conservationaction.org
Sponsorship Ticket Levels:
Nothing But Blue Sky Over Sonoma $5,000 | Cleaner Water in our Rivers and San Francisco Bay $2,500 | Reduced GHG Emissions for the entire North Bay $1,000 | Local Regenerative Farming $500 | Decreased Demand for Donald Trump Mega-Rallies $300
Individual $25 | $100 with Gift basket
Check Out SCCA’s Silent Auction!
A Huge Thank You to our Early Sponsors!
Nothing But Blue Sky Over Sonoma
Neal Fishman
Warren and Janis Watkins
Michael Allen and Helen Ross
Cleaner Water in our Rivers and San Francisco Bay
SOAR/Russian River Adventures
Susan Gorin, Sonoma County Supervisor
Reduced GHG Emissions for the entire North Bay
Jackson Family Wines
Lucy Kortum
Jean Schulz
Marc Bommersbach
North Bay Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Local Regenerative Farming
Anne and Brien Seeley
Ariel Kelley
Nell Kneibler
Jake Mackenzie, Rohnert Park City Council and Barbara Mackenzie
Senator Mike McGuire
Ed Sheffield
Julie, Barry and Jerry Groves
Congressman Jared Huffman
Decreased Demand for Donald Trump Mega-Rallies
Chris Coursey
Damon Connolly, Marin County Supervisor
Ever Flores
Lynda Hopkins, Sonoma County 5th District Supervisor
Maddy Hirshfield and Janet Orchard, Former Mayor of Cotati
Willard and Nancy Richards
Barbara Moulton and Tom Helm
Guy Conner
Debora Fudge-Committe to Elect Debora Fudge Town Council 2020
Lance and J Barlas
Mark and Cathy Walsh