 We are excited to start 2026 with you! Dr. Jennifer and Jodie will continue co-coordinating on all things Cohesive Strategy related in Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson and northern Klamath Counties. We’ll be tracking successes and lessons learned, gleaning best practices from experts, educating and empowering others, and supporting efforts that connect local actions to the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. To safely and effectively extinguish fire when needed; use fire where allowable; manage our natural resources; and collectively, learn to live with wildland fire through:Resilient LandscapesFire Adapted CommunitiesSafe, Effective, Risk-based Wildfire Response Find Out More __________________________________________________________ REGIONAL/NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS The Alliance for Wildfire Resilience has a tool that tracks Congressional action on the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. The Bills and Recommendations Explorer can be searched by active wildfire-related bill or by report recommendation.Try the tool here ___________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS  ADAPTING TOGETHER: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF FIRE IN THE NORTHWEST March 4th-6th 2026, at Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA, in the Columbia River Gorge.Join Oregon State University, the Fire Adapted Communities Network, Northwest Fire Science Consortium, and partners for an engaging workshop to transform how we adapt and coexist with wildfire. As new fire policies and adaptation strategies have grown across the Northwest, it is essential that we work together to learn, share and craft actionable visions. ADAPTING TOGETHER focuses on diverse approaches to place-based wildfire adaptation within and across this region. Click Here to Learn More JOIN US AT THE WUI CONFERENCE! Fighting Wildfire In A Changing World. March 24-26, 2026, Peppermill Resort, Reno, Nevada Communities in the WUI are experiencing unprecedented threats and from wildfires. The old rules have changed, and first responders, practitioners, and land managers are the fire service is facing a year-round fire season that’s pushing them to their limits.The Wildland-Urban Interface conference gathers leaders from the fire service, government, industry, and research organizations into a three-day event designed to equip you and your team with the tools they need to face wildfire in this new reality.At WUI 2026, you can:Engage with the latest data on wildfire behavior and impactAttend workshops and courses led by experienced SMEs in wildfire protection, prevention, and mitigation, and policyCollaborate with colleagues departments from around the world and learn about their diverse experiences with, approaches to, and strategies for facing wildfire in the WUIHear internationally acclaimed speakers on issues at the heart of wildfire protection, prevention, and mitigationDevelop your network with peers and parallel organizations in the global wildfire communityGain new perspectives on wildfire planning, community outreach, public engagement, and resource allocation from departments and agencies of all sizesAnd much, much more! Click Here to Learn More _________________________________________________________ GRANTS  Need help paying for a project? Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District – Juniper Management Funding The Deschutes SWCD is accepting applications for funding assistance to manage excessive juniper on private lands within Deschutes County. Funding is provided through a state legislative grant supporting large-scale juniper reduction projects across Central and Eastern Oregon. Projects will be ranked based on hydrologic and ecological benefit. DSWCD staff will conduct a field visit to evaluate each proposed project area before selection. More information:https://www.deschutesswcd.org/juniper-management-funding-application/ Allen Family Philanthropies – Accelerating Natural Climate Solutions The foundation has opened an RFP focused on addressing the barriers that limit Natural Climate Solutions through science, technology, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state and local governments, universities, and tribal entities, with fiscal sponsorship allowed. Projects may span up to three years. The foundation plans to fund six to seven projects nationally, with a total budget of 10 million dollars and individual awards generally in the 1.4 to 1.7 million dollar range. Letters of Interest are open through January 15, 2026. More information: https://www.allenphilanthropies.org/accelerating-ncs-rfp Healthy American Forests Initiative This National Fish and Wildlife Foundation program supports large-scale forest restoration, watershed resilience, habitat improvement, and wildfire-risk reduction. Awards typically range from 250,000 to 2 million dollars, with project periods of up to two years. All funded work must occur on National Forest System lands. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, tribes, and state or local government entities. Applications are due January 13. More information: https://www.nfwf.org/healthy-american-forests-initiative-request-proposals-0 Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) CSCI provides funding for climate adaptation and resilience activities in communities with heightened vulnerability to climate hazards. Grants range from 60,000 to 115,000 dollars and include cohort-based training and technical assistance over a 12-month term. Eligibility requires a three-partner structure: an adaptation practitioner, a community-based organization, and a local or regional government. Projects must focus on adaptation rather than mitigation. An informational applicant webinar was held on November 13, 2025, and a recording is available on the funding page. Teams are encouraged to have all three required partners assembled by early February 2026 to allow sufficient time to prepare the application. Applications are due March 12, 2026. More information: https://climatesmartcommunity.org/funding/ Oregon Living With Fire Co-Coordinator, Dr. Jennifer Fenton, has developed a form to help find funding for projects in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson and northern Klamath Counties that align with the Cohesive Strategy. Fill Out Our Project Planner Form Here |