Foresta Institute for Ocean and Mountain Studies Audiovisual Materials

Foresta Institute for Ocean and Mountain Studies was conceived and established in the mid-twentieth century at a time when the word “ecology” was largely unknown to most people. Founded in 1960 in Washoe Valley, Nevada, the name “Foresta” was derived from the old French word that refers to the outer wild areas of woods and wildlife protected for the sovereign. Though Foresta was the brainchild of Dr. Richard Gordon Miller and Maya Miller, the original board also consisted of John Darling, Homer Angelo and Ann Angelo. Foresta was incorporated as a private, non-profit, scientific, educational and charitable institution under the laws of the state of Nevada on July 1, 1960. Dr. Miller and his associates believed there was a need for a non-governmental, non-profit research organization in the community of western Nevada/eastern California, which could encourage, sponsor, and initiate scientific research, resource surveys and other natural history studies.