National Project of the Year Award Goes to CCC Tree Mortality Work

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Conservation Corps will receive a 2018 Project of the Year Award from The Corps Network in recognition of the CCC’s Save Our Sierra project.
This prestigious award is presented annually by The Corps Network to select organizations within its membership of more than 130 Corps across the country. Awardees are chosen via a rigorous application and peer review process.
“Our Corpsmembers and their supervisors worked tremendously hard in making sure the Save the Sierra program made significant and positive impact on mitigating the damage done to California’s forest by drought and pest infestation,” said Bruce Saito, director of the California Conservation Corps.
Projects recognized have undertaken especially influential or innovative endeavors within the past year and are noteworthy for their ability to provide both a positive experience for Corpsmembers and meaningful improvements to the community.
The Save Our Sierra project seeks to prevent further environmental devastation from the drought and bark beetle infestation especially in underserved communities.
The project began in January 2017 with 50 Corpsmembers trained and certified in using chainsaws to remove thousands of diseased trees to promote a healthier forest. Removing diseased and dead trees decreases resource competition and improves the tree’s natural defense against bark beetles.

The project also earned recognition from the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps as “Project of the Year” for 2017.