Videos from August 2022 forum on The Road to Safer, More Sustainable Pest Management: how state and local agencies can work together to reduce pesticide use on public land.
In August 2022 Sonoma SASS hosted a public forum to talk about successes in working with local public agencies in Sonoma County to eliminate or reduce pesticide use and systemic challenges with convincing state agencies, like Caltrans, to follow suit.
Assembly Bill 99, which was in part inspired by the discussions at this public forum, would require Caltrans to honor local restrictions on pesticide use.
Forum Panelists included Julie Henderson, Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), Clare Mendelsohn, Deputy Secretary of CalEPA, Lynda Hopkins, Sonoma County 5th District Supervisor, Bert Whitaker, Director of Sonoma County Regional Parks, and Sarah Keiser from the Community Grazing Cooperative. The panel was moderated by Sonoma Safe Agriculture Safe Schools Director Megan Kaun.
The program included a lively panel discussion followed by poignant public comment. Videos of the forum are available below.
Megan Kaun, Director Sonoma SASS
The state of pesticide use on public land in Sonoma County
Sarah Keiser, Community Grazing Cooperative
Why Sustainable land stewardship naturally eliminates pesticide use
Bert Whitaker, Director Sonoma County Regional Parks
Sonoma County Regional Parks' committment to eliminating routine pesticide use
Lynda Hopkins, Sonoma County 5th District Supervisor
Sonoma County's committment to keeping pesticides out of parks, pathways, and other public spaces.
Julie Henderson, Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)
A Vision of the Road to Safer, More Sustainable Pest Management
Panelist Discussion with Audience Questions
Public Comment and Testimony