In 1991, Tom Knudson wrote a five part series of articles from an eight-month investigation for the Sacramento Bee called "The Sierra in Peril." This report chronicled a myriad of problems: polluted air, dying forests, poisoned rivers, vanishing wildlife, eroding soil and rapid-fire development. This series won a Pulitzer Prize.
These articles made the conservation community aware that there was no unified voice speaking out for the protection of the Sierra. Thus, the Environment Now foundation joined by other groups and foundations sponsored a conference called Sierra Now. In preparation a number of task forces were convened to research, assess and develop environmental solutions to Sierra problems. The final recommendations from the task forces were presented to 450 attendees at the Sierra Now conference. One of the goals of the Sierra Now process was to create and launch a new organization to ‘speak out' for the Sierra. That organization would become the Sierra Nevada Alliance. Based on the results of the task forces and conference, conservation leaders reached the inevitable conclusion that environmental organizations must begin working together toward a common Sierra goal, share their talents and create expertise where none exists.
The Sierra Nevada Alliance is committed to raising statewide and national awareness of issues facing the Sierra Nevada region and determined to make a difference on protecting lands, water, wildlife and communities. The Sierra Nevada Alliance acts as a unified regional voice focusing attention on the entire Sierra Nevada region while concurrently strengthening individual conservation efforts throughout the region.
Our core programs include:
- AmeriCorps Partnership – We annually place 28 members at organizations across the Sierra where they conduct environmental restoration, monitoring and education programs.
- Regional Climate Change – The Sierra Nevada Alliance Regional Climate Change Program engages and supports efforts to adopt exemplary, sustainable regional plans across the Sierra.
- Sierra Nevada Advocacy – Our efforts organize and mobilize the Sierra conservation community to confront and defeat threats to Sierra Nevada ecosystems and communities.
- Member Group Support – This program strengthens the individual efforts of our Member Groups to protect the Sierra's special places, wildlife, resources and communities.