Local Environmental Group Continues to Protect the Sierra Nevada Despite National Attacks

This citation is from the Winter 2025 Newsletter from Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC). ENGAGE TUOLUMNEencourages our community to become informed about environmental issues in the Sierra Nevada region. CSERC provides a local perspective.  Please consider subscribing to their newsletter to follow policy updates.

“Grateful to be able to make a difference, amidst all the challenges…In the 35 years that CSERC has served as a voice for wild places, water, and wildlife across our vast region, there have never been as many national level attacks on environmental policies or so many
 staffing positions lost at agencies responsible for federal lands. 

“Protection for wild places that is based upon the Roadless Rule is threatened – potentially affecting 43 million acres of pristine areas. Key parts of the Endangered Species Act are being targeted. Economics could now determine whether some species are allowed to go extinct. 

“Instead of managing National Parks to protect resources for future generations, the Park Service now aims to maximize visitor numbers and profits for gateway businesses. Across Forest Service and BLM lands, timber production is the highest priority. Downsizing of agency staff remains a threat. There are many national policy shifts that favor oil, gas, or mining and slash protections for water, air quality, and wildlife. 

“But despite all the national level threats, in our local region CSERC has built long-standing relationships with a diversity of forest and watershed stakeholders – connections that often still lead to ecologically positive collaborative agreements. CSERC’s years of striving for win-win outcomes is a timely strategy in dire times (1).”

NOTES

1. “The CSERC Newsletter,” Winter 2025.