The PM Group’s Post

The Flames Burn More Than Just Trees... As I sit here reflecting on the raging wildfires engulfing Los Angeles, I can’t help but wonder—what is the true cost of these flames? Yes, the physical destruction is devastating. Homes reduced to ashes, wildlife displaced, and landscapes forever altered. But what about the legal and social ramifications? Who is accountable for the negligence that often fuels such disasters? How do we balance the need for development with environmental preservation? And most importantly, how do we ensure justice for the communities that bear the brunt of these catastrophes? As a law student, these questions ignite a sense of purpose within me. Natural disasters often reveal the cracks in our legal and societal frameworks. They’re not just environmental crises but also ethical, legal, and social challenges that demand action. This is not just a call for reflection but a plea for solutions. Let’s use our collective voices, knowledge, and platforms to drive change—because every wildfire extinguished must be matched with a spark of hope and action. How do you think we can create a stronger legal framework to address such crises? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s ignite a conversation for change. #Wildfires #ClimateChange #LawAndJustice #LAWildfires #Environment #CallToAction

From a predominantly agency-led practice to a statewide grassroots movement, prescribed fire has transformed significantly in California. Over the last few decades, there has been a massive shift to “reclaim fire as a tool for normal people,” according to Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). Her recent webinar on “California’s Prescribed Fire (R)evolution,” hosted by the California Fire Science Consortium, addresses the prescribed fire evolution/revolution in California and paths forward. Landowners, farmers, ranchers, and other community members are working together to conduct prescribed burns across the state. These informal, community-led movements have proved highly effective in changing how we think about and implement prescribed fire in California. Communities are demanding something different, and we shouldn’t underestimate the broader cultural and ecological implications of this local work. “That’s the cultural change that we need to allow for anything else to happen at a landscape level,” as Quinn-Davidson sees it. Visit the link below to view the full webinar: https://lnkd.in/gMZgwg6A #climateandwildfire #prescribedfire #firescience #firepractitioners #fireresilience #grassrootsmovement #communityengagement #communityorganizing #californiawildfire

From the high costs of wildfires for provincial budgets to the devastating impacts on communities, we need to rethink our approach to fire. Solutions like Indigenous fire stewardship offers a promising way forward—a solution that not only reduce fire risks but also are an investment in our economies and communities. Read more from Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson and Robert W. Gray on why investing in this approach is key to adapting in The Vancouver Sun https://bit.ly/4eviKkz

When you picture wetlands, you might first think of the marshy estuaries of the coastal South. But landlocked communities are also home to a vast number of wetlands, where they serve a critical role in keeping people safe from flooding. Tennessee alone has over 787,000 acres. Last year, Dr. Chris Vanags, a research professor at Vanderbilt University, co-authored a report on the benefits of Tennessee’s wetlands, specifically highlighting so-called “isolated wetlands,” which appear disconnected from other water bodies and have recently been the target of the Supreme Court and state legislatures: https://selc.link/4f4clxA “It’s not always obvious that isolated wetlands, even though they’re called isolated, are actually a complete part of an ecosystem,” Vanags explains. Isolated wetlands are connected to groundwater and to nearby rivers – and the economic value of the benefits they provide in Tennessee is estimated at over $21 billion. In addition to cleaning and recharging drinking water, isolated wetlands help retain water every time it rains. Learn more about the protective powers of wetlands: https://selc.link/3AlTAGQ

Ranchers and farmers: Your work feeds the world, and your land is the heart of your community. With the Land is Your Legacy program from Nationwide, you can ensure your land remains in your family for generations. Let us guide you through this important decision. 🤝 Let’s talk! Schedule your free consultation today. Comment LEGACY to get started. #RanchLifeLegacy #FarmSecurity #NationwidePartnership #LandProtection #GenerationalWealth

Restoring oxbows in Iowa is providing a very positive return on investment. Oxbows are restored by digging out the sediment, deepening the water and reconnecting it to the nearby creek. This costs about $25,000. But then a one acre oxbow can hold a million gallons of water, preventing downstream flooding and filtering 60% of the nitrogen. The nature based solution is gaining momentum. During the first 20 years of the program about 200 oxbows were restored. But 50 projects were completed over the last two years in Iowa, improving water quality in local waterways and ultimately the Mississippi River.

The current rules for managing the Colorado River expire in 2026, and state negotiators are under pressure to agree on a set of replacement guidelines before then. Read this article to learn more about the future of this vital watershed that provides water to over 40 million Americans. #ColoradoRiver #Climatecrisis #watercrisis

Coree Tull - the chair of the B.C. Watershed Security Coalition - marked World Rivers Day by calling on all political parties to commit to the stewardship of B.C.’s waterways as the proince faces a cycle of water-related crises. Read the Op-Ed for the costs of the problem and details on the solutions. Three essential actions to build a more secure future are needed: 💧 Establish local watershed boards "Establishing a provincewide system of watershed boards would provide dedicated local leadership. Regions that already have these boards, like the Cowichan and Okanagan, benefit from proactive water management" 💧Value waterways the same as other essential infrastructure "In 2021, the B.C. government invested $27 million in watershed projects through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, followed by $30 million in 2022... Restored creeks and wetlands protected local businesses during floods. First Nations and farmers worked together to ensure water and food security during drought, and Indigenous-led stewardship improved outcomes for both people and salmon." ... "For less than the cost of a single bridge or highway, the province would ensure a legacy of healthy and secure watersheds for all British Columbians." 💧Grow the watershed workforce "The Healthy Watersheds Initiative generated 1,517 jobs over two years... A 2021 economic study identified the potential for 13,000 new jobs in B.C.’s watershed sector over the next decade."

The biggest reason family forestland is lost…. Financial. Especially when passed on to wives or the next generation. Just loving the forest isnt enough if you cant AFFORD to keep the land. The first challenge are annual, often rising, property taxes. Yes- there are conservation programs to reduce the payments but it doesnt eliminate them. Next is the fact ANY conservation work you want to do to better the environment, improve wildlife havitat, increase timber quality… It ALL cost money. Even fire. To safely put fire on the land, you need to implement firebreaks. Unless you have your own dozer or tractor, that cost money to establish and refresh. If you’re not comfortable and proficient at understanding fire behavior, now you’re paying for experts time to conduct the prescribed burn…. Money. To truly love the family forestland, you NEED to create a sustainable revenue wheel that keeps it from becoming the family liability that eventually gets sold to development… I can help you with that. And you can get that guidance absolutely FREE the next 19 days! (Until November 10th) through the Radical Academy. Proverbs 21:5 Will your land be a truly asset to love or a liability down the line? #christianwomen #land #inheritingland #youronlineforester #landownership

How are #wildfires in California changing over time? In 2020, PPIC's Water Policy Center sat down with fire scientist Crystal Kolden of University of California, Merced to discuss how California’s #firescape is changing, and what we can do about it.