In partnership with California State Parks and the Nevada County Library, the monthly Sierra Speaker Series connects folks to the rich cultural and natural history of the area. Join us at Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center to learn and engage! The presentation is to follow at 4 pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Light refreshments and wine sponsored by Highway 12 Winery will be available. No registration required.

Sugar pine is known as the King of Pines for its size and the beauty of its giant pine cones. Sugar pines used to comprise about 25% of the local forests, but are now less than 5%. This is due to historic logging, fire suppression, which favors other species, and a non-native invasive fungus called White Pine Blister Rust. Come learn about the effort to bring back sugar pines!

Maria Mircheva first volunteered to climb trees for the Sugar Pine Foundation in 2006. In 2007, after the Angora Fire, Maria took over the daily operation and became the Executive Director. For the past 18 years, she organized the planting of over 250,000 trees. Maria holds a BA in Business Economics and a Master’s in Environmental Science from UC Santa Barbara.