We are a new collaborative group of federal, state, tribal, academic, and nonprofit entities hoping to grow our network across the state.

Our three overarching goals are to:

• Connect relevant practitioners and knowledge holders across the state to share information

• Support conservation and restoration of quaking aspen stands

• Promote quaking aspen research and monitoring

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests provide numerous values to anthropogenic and ecological communities, including biodiversity, forage, ceremonial use, and as fire breaks.

It is also an indicator species for other valuable habitats (e.g., meadows, riparian areas) and cultural resources (e.g., springs).

In California, aspen stands are limited in extent and have experienced declines due to past fire exclusion practices, insect outbreaks, and prolonged drought.

Aspen stands are important for achieving landscape wildfire resilience and restoring hydrologic function across the state, however efforts to research, manage, and restore aspen are siloed among different research and management entities.