Yana Valachovic has joined the UC ANR Policy Institute as interim associate director for Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes, announced Anne Megaro, government and community relations director and interim Policy Institute director.
In 2000, Valachovic joined UC Cooperative Extension as a forest advisor, and in 2009, she took on additional responsibility as the UCCE Director for Humboldt and Del Norte counties. She also supports the UC ANR Fire Network in the community resiliency and built environment space.
“Yana has demonstrated her passion and skill in solving challenging problems, drawing on her experience in forestry, natural resources and wildfire mitigation, as well as 25 years rooted in County government and community engagement,” Megaro said. “She has worked extensively with the California Legislature and the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where she has been effective in supporting natural resources and wildfire policy development on many natural resource topics.”
Valachovic’s foundation as a scientist and as a registered professional forester has led her across many natural resource fields. She is best known for her work in wildfire mitigation and resilience; however, her research has also covered the ecology of conifer and oak ecosystems, management of forest pathogens, redwood wood quality, forest densification, wildfire building performance and the sociological aspects of cannabis production.
Her service work includes roles with the California Fire Science Consortium, the California Wildfire Forest Resilience Task Force, the Office of the Fire Marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Committee, the California Department of Insurance Public Wildfire Catastrophe Model workgroup, the California Oak Mortality Task Force, and the Professional Foresters Examining Committee.
Internationally, she is active with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and she has extensive experience supporting many government and community groups across the North Coast.
“We are pleased to welcome Yana as she helps develop the Institute from concept to reality,” Megaro said. “Her experience working with policymakers on complex, high-profile issues and her ability to translate the latest science to real-world policy applications will be instrumental to our success.”
Valachovic will lead the Policy Institute’s work in natural ecosystems and working landscapes, joining Karen Jetter and JoLynn Miller, who lead agriculture and food systems and thriving people and communities, respectively.
“We are excited that the institute will help better connect the talents of the UC ANR team with policymakers across the state and nation,” Megaro said.