Biography

I am passionate about using fire to steward forested landscapes and communities. Growing up in New York City before moving to Portland, Oregon, I attended Reed College, majoring in Biology. At Reed, I developed an interest in forestry and for my senior thesis, chose to write about the impacts climate change will have on the forest communities of the Pacific Northwest. As a Forest Resource Assistant at UC Berkeley’s Blodgett Forest Research Station, I participated in my first prescribed burn and have been interested in reintroducing beneficial forms of fire to management systems and communities ever since. Starting at CCRCD in February 2023, I will be working to develop a Wildfire Conservation Program in Contra Costa County. I believe that shifting collective understandings of fire is a critical step in reorienting dominant culture’s relationship with the abundance the Earth provides.

My work at the CCRCD

I was hired with three years of funding received by the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts from a CALFIRE Wildfire Resilience Block Grant. In this position, I will be providing technical assistance, outreach and education related to the subject of wildfire resilience. Significant wildfire risk reduction and preparation planning has occurred in the County in recent years and is documented in the Regional Priority Plan and Community Wildfire Prevention Plan - with plans in place, it is now time for implementation. Initial implementation plans include conducting a needs assessment through partnering with other RCDs, agencies, and private landowners to identify areas of collaboration where fire resiliency impacts can be realized most quickly. I will be working to increase the CCRCD’s ability to deliver technical assistance to partners in the County, and working with private landowners to reduce the threat of wildfire through proactive management of natural resources.

You may reach me with any questions or input at aanasal@ccrcd.org.