Environmental Protection Program

CAL FIRE's mission includes protecting California's resources-- not only from natural disaster, but from the direct and indirect impacts that may arise from the Department's actions. CAL FIRE's own activities, as well as those it approves, permits, funds or otherwise facilitates, may impact the environment, and are therefore subject to environmental review. The Environmental Protection Program strives to provide protection to the resources of the state through its sub-program areas.

Environmental Protection Sub-Programs

Climate and Energy Program

CAL FIRE is working at local, state and national levels to protect and manage California forests so they can continue to provide net greenhouse gas benefits and so that we can reduce impacts to forests of climate change impacts which are already taking place. Healthy forests have an important role to play in addressing climate change.

Cultural Resources Management

Cultural heritage resources, which include places where past events occurred and where material traces of these events can be found, are especially vulnerable. Such traces include archaeological, historical and tribal cultural sites, structures, objects, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places and artifacts.

Wood Products and Bioenergy

CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy team seeks to maintain and enhance the forest-sector workforce and businesses of California to promote healthy resilient forests throughout the state by supporting a diverse set of business development and workforce development projects.

The Environmental Protection Program's Mission

The Environmental Protection Program strives to ensure that:

State and Federal environmental laws are observed
Forested landscapes are managed wisely
The state's varied biological resources are enhanced
Water quality is protected and maintained
The state's archaeological, historical and tribal cultural resources are protected
California's wildlands are managed to minimize and offset climate change effects
The state's woody biomass resource is efficiently utilized

When CAL FIRE decides to approve, permit, fund, or carry out a project that may effect the environment, its decision is subject to disclosure and review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Certain Department activities may be exempt from CEQA due to their emergency nature (e.g., firefighting, flood response) or their minimal likelihood for causing significant impacts (statutory or categorical exemptions). Other actions may require the Department's development and approval of environmental documents, including Environmental Impact Reports.

In addition to CEQA, CAL FIRE is subject to many other State and Federal laws and regulations - federal and State Endangered Species Acts, Clean Water Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act - and must obtain various permits to carryout certain activities. In conducting its environmental analysis under CEQA, CAL FIRE consults with other agencies, carries out surveys and studies, seeks the opinion of experts and solicits public input. CAL FIRE strives to avoid environmental impacts through modifications in the project such that sensitive resources are protected. Where necessary, CAL FIRE adopts additional mitigations to ensure that impacts to all resources are, individually and cumulatively, less than significant.