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August 2023

This Month's Issue:

BECome a Friend of the Cleanup

EVENT: Environmental Justice Forum

Woodstock's Wednesday Fundraiser

Advocacy: Tree Equity & Extreme Heat Mitigation

Climate Resilience Resource Map

Program Updates: Upcoming Workshops

Saturday, September 16th, BEC will be hosting the 36th annual

Bidwell Park & Chico Creeks Cleanup and Restoration Projects!

This year we will be adding in some additional climate action projects focusing on urban greening, organic waste reduction and edible food recovery, and wildfire resilience.

Stay tuned for more details!

If you would like to volunteer for the cleanup, please visit: bit.ly/Cleanup2023

If you believe in this critical work, we invite you to become a "Friend of the 36th Cleanup" today with a donation of $36 to support this event's success. Your contribution provides our volunteers with necessary tools for the creek clean up and restoration projects, and provide them with our iconic cleanup t-shirts that celebrate our collective action.

To BECome a Friend of the Cleanup please visit, bit.ly/BEC-FoC.

Environmental Justice Forum

Friday, August 4th, 6pm

Join BEC, UC Climate Stewards, and special guest speakers to explore the topic of Environmental Justice and learn about important work happening in the community.

This is a free virtual community event!

Partnership with BCLFN!

BEC is excited to highlight our growing partnership with the Butte County Local Food Network! Together, we're promoting edible food recovery and increasing fresh food accessibility by building gardens and Free the Food Stands across the county, because everyone has the right to good food!

Sign up for the BCLFN Newsletter to hear more about the upcoming farm-to-fork event and other activities! Scroll to the bottom of their webpage to join the newsletter.

Woodstock's Wednesday!

Grab a bite to eat for BEC this Wednesday, August 2nd at Woodstock's!

Use the code 'Fundy5' online and in-store to support BEC's mission of protecting the land, air, and water of Butte County, while also enjoying a slice or two of delicious local pizza.

We appreciate your support!

Advocacy Article:

Tree Equity & Extreme Heat Mitigation

Following several back-to-back weekends of extreme heat advisories, BEC is reflecting on our role in advocating for more substantive climate-change mitigation strategies specific to extreme heat events, especially those that are efficient and cost-effective.

Recently, BEC's Advocacy Committee, chaired by Eric Nilsson, participated in public comment on Chico's Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) with hopes to preserve the integrity of the plan and protect and grow Chico's urban forest. While Chico has a significant urban tree canopy, the American Forests Tree Equity Score's map of Chico clearly shows that the distribution of canopy is not equal across the city, and this is not uncommon. Their research states that the poorest neighborhoods in the US have 41% less tree canopy than their wealthier counterparts. Areas lacking substantial shade are known as 'shade deserts,' and residents are at an increased risk for heat-related illnesses during extreme heat events. An unequal distribution of trees and shade only adds to class-based health disparities in our communities. Shade is an easy yet often overlooked heat mitigation strategy that can both cool and beautify our urban spaces while protecting all Chico residents from extreme heat.

In contrast to traditional materials comprising a city, like asphalt and cement which absorb heat, trees offer shade and hold moisture, reducing the impact of the heat burden on a person's body. However, research points toward needing more than just an increase in the amount of trees to combat the rise in extreme heat events -- we need shade infrastructure backed by strategic municipal planning which include mitigation measures such as altering building codes to require built-in shade structures in public areas.

While BEC and other environmental groups stood their ground in demanding our right to a healthy urban forest, unfortunately, the UFMP was passed with alterations that weaken the enforceability of tree canopy requirements for developers.

Through the Community Resilience grant, BEC will continue to educate the most climate-affected among us on how to stay cool this summer, but it is clear to make meaningful change we will need city-wide preventative strategies and long-term vision to reduce the impacts of extreme heat in our region.

To support local tree plantings with BEC, check out https://www.becnet.org/urbanforest.

Sources: "Shade is an essential solution for hotter cities." V. Kelly Turner, Ariane Middel & Jennifer K. Vanos. Nature. Vol. 619. 27 July 2023.; American Forests Tree Equity Score. https://www.americanforests.org/tools-research-reports-and-guides/tree-equity-score/.

Community Resources for

Climate Resilience

As part of our ongoing efforts to bring climate change education and resources to Butte County, our California Climate Action Corps Summer Fellow, Mackenzie Hagedorn, has put together two maps illustrating heat resources and food security resources in Butte County. Check them out and see what is available in your area!

Program Updates

Community Resilience Grant

Last month’s newsletter announced that BEC was identified by the State's Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications as a trusted community presence. Through this program, we will continue extreme heat resilience and water conservation education to build a more climate-resilient community together.

As part of this work, BEC is continuing The Beat the Heat Series with co-hosts, South Chico Community Assistance Center. Through this partnership with The Center, we offered a workshop to help residents (renters and owners alike) make their homes more heat resilient. Check out this feature in the newspaper about the workshop! As our work around climate resilience has gained traction, we are excited to have the Red Cross support upcoming Beat the Heat Workshops. Here are the details for the next workshop in our Beat the Heat Series with The Center:

Thursday, August 3

6:00-8:00PM

Magalia Community Center

13917 South Park Drive, Magalia

Stop by to learn more about heat resilience and claim your free weatherization resources for your own home! And don't forget to keep an eye on our social media pages for details on an upcoming workshop in Spanish at the Gridley Farm Labor Housing.

We are excited to be partnering with South Chico Community Assistance Center and grateful to have financial support from the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications and the Northern California Red Cross for the Beat the Heat Series.

Treecovery & Seed 2 Shade

This month Miranda, Molly, and Katelyn got the opportunity to attend the Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) in Shasta. It was a week-long professional development course where they were certified as Project WET and Project Learning Tree educators.

They stayed at Camp McCumber right outside Lassen National Park, so the setting was perfect to be immersed in local forestry knowledge. They listened to presentations from a variety of forest management stakeholders, including Ted Dawson, representing indigenous perspectives as a member of the Nom Sus Wintu, Katelyn Suderman, a Silviculturist with the USDA Forest Service, Mike Klimek with the National Park Service, Lois Kauffman, representing private landowners with American Tree Farm, John Mills with W.M. Beaty representing industrial forestry, and David Ledger from the Sierra Club.

The week was jam packed with expert knowledge and unique experiences related to forestry and education. It would not have been possible without the amazing FIT McCumber leaders Dennis Mitchel, Brian, and Austin! We would would like to thank them for creating an immersive and fantastic week!

Receive a Tree!

Plant a Tree!

Funding for Trees PLEASE has been provided through California ReLeaf and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Urban and Community Forestry Program with funds made available through the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018.

Community Composting

Volunteer with us

We need volunteers passionate about compost to help us conduct household food scrap pickups all throughout Chico! The scraps are then taken to a community garden composting site. The goal of this program is to make composting accessible to all, reduce waste from going to landfill, and strengthen community resilience.

Sunset Garden Workshops

We're hosting our next Sunset Garden Workshop August 2nd, 6-8pm. This workshop will focus on Integrated Pest Management. We will learn from a professional about how we can incorporate more sustainable pest management skills in our garden and go on a scavenger hunt to find creepy crawlies!

Join us in the garden for some knowledge and fun activities. Scan the QR code or go to click below to sign up! We hope to see you there!

Sunset Garden Workdays

Last week, we hosted the Boys & Girls Club in the garden for a morning of plant IDs, compost, and games! CCAC fellow Mackenzie Hagedorn organized the garden part as way to get the next generation interested in gardening and climate education. Together with Bridget, our Education & Outreach Associate, we toured the Oak Way garden and learned about different composting systems. Fellow Katelyn Fansler led a super fun Birds & Bugs activity, then we painted signs and rocks to help beautify our garden! Thanks to the Boys & Girls Club for supporting our morning in the garden!

Upcoming Community

Partner Events

August 5th: Butte Fire Safe Council - Berry Creek Community Meeting, 10am-1pm.

August 12th: Paradise RPD -

Volunteer Day 75th Anniversary Volunteer sign up form

August 19th: CARD -

Nature Center Ice Cream Social,

12-3pm

Every Thursday - Help make local compost from 9am-12pm with Paradise Community Compost.

Every Friday - Volunteer at Verbena Fields from 10am-1pm with Chico TEK.

If you would like to promote your environmental-related event in BEC's newsletter or on our website, please email staff@becnet.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

Climate Action Corps Fellow Farewell

This month, we are saying farewell to California Climate Action Corps fellows, Molly, Mackenzie, Katelyn, and Rose. These four fellows have been serving at BEC full time, taking the lead on projects related to urban greening, organic waste/edible food recovery, and wildfire resilience, and conducting outreach to garner volunteers for their projects. You might have seen them in the community garden building compost bays, picking up compost from your front porch, or planting trees across Butte County. These fellows have been an immeasurable asset to BEC and our programs. These young climate leaders have grown our volunteer base and expanded BEC’s presence in the community by taking the lead on climate action projects. Their talents and personalities have brought joy to the office and enlivened us all. We are grateful to our fellows for choosing to join BEC and investing in our local community through climate action. You have our gratitude and best wishes as you continue to work toward a more just and sustainable future!

Support Butte Environmental Council!

BEC is a grassroots non-profit dedicated to protecting the health of our environment. Our work is made possible by people like you! Your contribution helps us plant trees, clean the creeks, and bring environmental education into the classroom.

Consider becoming a Sustaining Member today for as little as $5/month.

Become a Member!

313 Walnut Street #140

Chico, CA 95928

530-891-6424

staff@becnet.org