The Feather River Land Trust and the California Native Plant Society invite the community to join them for a presentation by author and educator Michael Kauffmann. The free talk, titled Conifers of the Pacific Slope, is set for Friday, March 14, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center.
Attendees will take a journey through the biodiverse and stunning forests of California, Oregon and Washington, say organizers. Kauffmann will feature tales of the trees along the Pacific Slope complemented by photos and range maps to get to know the 65 native species. He will share his love of conifers and their evolutionary history with an emphasis on identifying and finding them. All of his books will be available to purchase. Organizers invite the community to join them on an armchair journey to exciting places to share in the love of trees.
Registration is available online.
Kauffmann is an ecologist, educator and author in Humboldt County where he and his wife Allison Poklmeba are raising two tree-loving boys. As an ecologist, he focuses on mapping and defining the biodiversity of the Klamath Mountains and California’s conifers. As an educator, he connects kids of all ages to the natural world. As an author, he has written “Conifer Country: A Natural History and Hiking Guide to 35 Conifers of the Klamath Mountain Region” and “Conifers of the Pacific Slope: A Field Guide to the Conifers of California, Oregon and Washington” and is co-author of “The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History,” “Field Guide to Manzanitas,” “California Desert Plants” and the forthcoming “California Trees.” He is also the founder of the Bigfoot Trail Alliance and owner of Backcountry Press.
Since 2003, the Feather River Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy and the Northern Sierra Partnership have worked together to create the Sierra Valley Preserve: 2,575 acres of protected land in California’s largest mountain valley. This biodiversity hotspot is at the headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Middle Fork Feather River and a key stop along the Pacific Flyway.
The Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center is used as a hub for nature-based recreation and learning where visitors and locals alike can experience the wonders of Sierra Valley’s beauty, cultural richness and incredible biodiversity, said FRLT. The new nature center and facilities include interactive exhibits, new interpretive trails and picnic areas, and year-round educational programs and activities.
Information provided by Feather River Land Trust