What is this initiative about? It aims at preserving California's remaining ancient forests, while reducing the damage to younger forests destined for continued logging. The initiative also would reform the makeup of the state Board of Forestry, ending the timber industry's domination over that body which regulates logging in state and private forests.
An ancient forest, with its dense canopy of centuries-old trees, is the preferred habitat for several plant and animal species. Some of these old growth forests still remain intact, though unprotected, on privately owned land. To preserve these unique ecosystems and the wildlife whose survival depends upon them, the Act authorizes the sale of bonds so the state can purchase the most viable ancient forests. The Headwaters Forest and the virgin redwoods of the Elk River drainage, both in Humboldt County, would be saved from logging plans by an immediate buyout. Other extensive and biologically critical ancient forests would be acquired for state preserves as funding allowed.
In addition, the Act would impose changes in the way logging may be carried out in forests which already have been shaped by the ax and chainsaw. Forest Practice Rules would be amended to reduce clearcutting and similar intensive logging methods, to lessen erosion, to protect the riparian zones around lakes and streams, and to discourage burning of logging slash. The Initiative would require gradual implementation of a sustained yield plan for all commercial timberlands. This regulation would place an upper limit, equal to a forest's growth potential, on the volume of timber which could be cut over a ten year period. Since these provisions would reduce timber harvesting to some degree, the Forest and Wildlife Protection Act provides compensation and retraining for timber workers whose jobs might be lost as a result of the new restrictions.
Finally, the initiative offers short-term logging advantages to anyone who refrains from exporting logs to other nations.
For more information, call Forests Forever at 462-2370. Most urgently need is your time - about two hours for training and three hours gathering signatures in front of a supermarket or busy streetcorner with another volunteer. Please give that commitment by calling Don at 895-2043.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2004
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