BOARD OF FORESTRY PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 14 1:00 P.M.
714 P Street Auditorium Room 102, Office Building 8 Sacramento
Governor Davis was elected a year ago on an environmentally progressive platform including a promise to "Spare the old growth from the logger's ax". (Hello? Loggers use chain saws these days.) Instead Davis has apparently been spending his time in bed with the timber industry, playing fast and loose with the public trust at the expense of the forest. And the rules of this game aren't found in the Forest Practice Act.
From the beginning, Davis has dragged his feet on everything from key forestry appointments to even the mildest reforms and protections. His fall rules package fell far short of real protection for endangered species, especially the now listed coho salmon, and this spring's version is looking even more watered down (see article Langs). But while Davis dallies with timber lobbyists, and industry paid lawyers engineer a bureaucratic slow down in the capital, forest monitors see the tell tale signs of an impending speed up in the woods. CDF and their sister agencies are giving big timber the wink and the nod, approving hundreds of plans containing the last residual old growth trees left in Humboldt and Mendocino counties. At risk are the last refuges of endangered species as well as the stable soils, clean water, air and jobs we all depend on.
But the rustle of corporate money is loud, especially when amplified by millions of dollars spent on high powered green washing campaigns.
Speaking at a recent Mendocino County forest council meeting regarding MRC (the new LP), and the Hawthorn Group (the new GP), Greenwood Watershed Association President Mary Pjrrou said " We are really discussed with the promises that have been made, and the promises that have not been kept. Where's the sustainability? We cannot settle for nice talk. We look at this document, and, frankly, we just want to laugh".
It may seem like a bad joke, but we all need to go back to the Board of Forestry again on March 14th and tell them the jig is up.
From the Albion to Freshwater, from Greenwood to the Mattole, activist-watershed resident must join together to insist on restoration based sustainable forestry under four basic conditions:
1. No cutting of old growth
2. No clearcutting
3. No herbicide use
4. No cutting on steep slopes
What You Can Do
Make your voice heard. The Board of Forestry will be voting on rules
Come to Board of Forestry Meeting - Special Hearing on Forest Rules
March 14 in Sacramento
Board of Forestry phone: 916 653-8007
Contacts:
Board of Forestry action Naomi 629-3546
Mendocino EF! c/o MEC 468-1660 Alicia, Alana or Naomi
North Coast EF! 825-6598
Boycott the Gap; Mary Bull (415) 731-7924; (707) 877-1609
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2000
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited