The Central Sierra Resource Conservation & Development Council will be conducting a series of community forums following a board of directors meeting to verify local resource concerns and opportunities, including one at the Pine Grove Town Hall on May 14.

Organizations and individuals are encouraged to attend the forums and be heard on projects to improve their community.

Organizations requested to participate in the community forums include the California Department of Forestry, fire safe councils, watershed councils, Foothill Conservancy, Sierra Pacific Industries, tribal governments and other organizations. Individuals are requested to come and add their ideas and plans.

Healthy watersheds, reducing hazards from wildfire and floods, and promoting a healthy economy through stimulating nature and historical tourism are program goals. Projects under consideration include watershed and wildfire defensible space inventories, historic adobe restoration, marketing of locally grass fed beef, and area guides to stimulate tourism and economic growth.

The mission of the nonprofit council is to provide economic and natural resource conservation assistance to communities in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties. The office is located at 235 New York Ranch Road, Suite D, Jackson, 95642.

An updated list of forum dates and locations can be found at www.csrcnd.org. Call project coordinator Dick McCleery at 257-1851 for more information and a forum flyer.