One element of a collective response is a potential framework for collaboration among the three counties designed to better position the region for:
Placer County invites Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) to try out two free online tools – the California Working Forest Planner (WFP) and the California Forest Industry Directory (FID) – that connect qualified forestry professionals with private landowners seeking to reduce wildfire risk and improve woody biomass utilization on their properties.
The California Working Forest Planner (WFP) bridges the gap between early landowner interest and RPF planning support by collecting foundational information that will help RPFs start with more informed clients and clearer project expectations. WFP saves time by guiding landowners through basic property and goal assessment and identifying local RPFs for potential project support.
The California Forest Industry Directory (FID) is a searchable online map of service providers for the forest sector including contractors, small mills, haulers, and other professionals working across California. It’s like a forest-specific version of Google Maps, built to help landowners and professionals find the right people to get the job done. Together with the WFP, this tool helps professionals make new connections and better understand woody biomass markets within the local area.
WFP and FID are part of the Digital Marketplace, a platform developed for the State’s California Forest Residual Aggregation Market Enhancement (CalFRAME) project by the State Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the Watershed Research and Training Center.
The first step in the Digital Marketplace is for Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) to register in the California Working Forest Planner (WFP). Registering allows RPFs to list their services and contact information so landowners can easily find qualified professionals when they are ready to begin work. Landowners use the WFP to enter basic property information and project goals, then search by geography and service type to identify nearby RPFs who can support their forest management needs. Being registered ensures RPFs are visible at the moment landowners are actively seeking assistance.
Placer County was selected to pilot the Digital Marketplace because of its strong wildfire mitigation activity, biomass utilization interest, and leadership in forest health planning. This pilot supports defensible space and fuels reduction on private lands, strengthens the local forestry workforce and wood utilization supply chain, and improves coordination between landowners and the RPFs who help them reduce wildfire risk. Lessons from the pilot will guide future improvements and potential expansion to other regions of California.
The County and State offer the Digital Marketplace solely as a connection tool. They do not rank, recommend, or assign service providers. All decisions and agreements remain directly between landowners and the professionals they choose.
For more information or to register for the Working Forest Planner, please visit the WFP website.
For more information or to register for the Forest Industry Directory, please visit the FID website.
