TO: Napa County Climate Action Committee
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Planning, Building, and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Ryan Melendez, Planner II, Sustainability
SUBJECT: Presentation on the St. Helena Community Forest Project
RECOMMENDATION
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PRESENTATION: Paul Asmuth from Sustainable St. Helena will present on the St. Helena Community Redwood Forest project.
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BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Sustainable St. Helena was formed by a group of concerned citizens in the Napa Valley who wanted to protect and preserve the natural landscape, habitats, and resources for many generations to come. Sustainable St. Helena is devoted to protecting natural resources and habitats from environmental degradation through actionable climate solutions and education while collaborating with government, industry, organizations and individuals to protect the health, future of our community and the natural environment.
The Redwood Community Forest Project aims to convert an existing fallow land into a community forest benefitting St. Helena for the future through environmental improvements by increasing carbon sequestration, oxygen generation, and soil retention; improving air quality and forest bathing; restoring habitats for wildlife, creating sustainable timber crops by reusing treated wastewater; creating new recreation opportunities through hiking trails; and improving land use aesthetics.
Paul Asmuth is an experienced General Manager and Director with a demonstrated history of working in the wine and hospitality industries. Mr. Asmuth is the founder of The Napa Valley Community Forest, a unique community forest project, planting 2,500 coast redwood and oak trees to benefit the environment and provide a legacy for the community.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California
Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.