{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Flifewithfire.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Flatinoforestryworkforcepart1-Focf16U8","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Part 1: The Latine Forestry Workforce with Dr. E.J. Davis","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/ff872a5e-c247-4d9d-99c7-e18642da1e7b/3786cd9b-ae22-4df0-ae12-1a051e116736/7dad79de-ff28-4fdb-acb5-4575c0b10a83.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"We all hear a lot about the need to significantly scale up our forest adaptation and resilience work—that is, thinning, replanting, prescribed burning and other tasks that are essential in preparing for and recovering from wildfire.\nBut what's often lost in this conversation is *who* is doing this work, and the future of that—at times, fraught—workforce in the face of increasing ecosystem needs in the West. It's one thing to say we need to get something done, but another thing entirely to know where that work is coming from, and how those workers are being treated. How can we ensure these folks are supported and being treated equitably in often unsafe, fast-paced and high-exposure jobs?\nIn the Pacific Northwest, a not-insignificant portion of forestry sector workers are Latine, many on H2B visas, which are temporary, non-agricultural working visas. Today's guest Emily Jane (E.J) Davis—along with co-authors Carl Wilmse, Manuel Machado and Gianna Alessi—aimed to learn more about these workers in a paper published in 2023 called Multiple Stories, Multiple Marginalities: The Labor Intensive Forest and Fire Stewardship Workforce in Oregon (link in episode notes). \nWhat they found is that this type of employment leaves workers vulnerable to exploitative labor practices and working conditions, a lack of training and resources that result in critical leadership and safety gaps on site, and a lack of power or ability to organize or unionize to improve conditions."}