Established in 1947, and by far California's largest state forest, Jackson State Forest is a public treasure. It comprises more than 50,000 acres of redwood forest in Mendocino County, reaching from near the Pacific Coast 20 miles eastward to the ridge of the inland valleys. It is a trove of diversity, home to thousands of species, from the yellow-cheeked chipmunk to the red-legged frog, from the downy leatherwing to the spotted owlÑsome abundant, some declining, and some all but gone.
Tragically, the state views Jackson State Forest (formally titled Jackson Demonstration State Forest) primarily as a source of lumber and revenue. Each year, the California Department of Forestry (CDF), which manages this public forest, cuts out of it tens of thousands of trees, over 28 million board feet of lumber. In past years, timber sales have been used to fund CDF's review of private timber harvest plans. The funds from cutting the public's trees subsidize the private timber industry.
CDF largely ignores the recreation potential of this forest. Hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping are sacrificed whenever these conflict with timber production. CDF has equally ignored the pressing need for wildlife sanctuary for species dependent on mature redwood forests and has refused to give salmon habitat the protection that science recommends.
In an important victory last May, the Campaign obtained an injunction against further logging in Jackson State until a long-overdue revision of its management plan is completed. This victory creates a short window of opportunity of perhaps a year in which to change the legislation that controls the forest before destructive logging can be resumed.
Our goal is to have 10,000 people demanding that their legislators make restoration to old growth the goal for our public forest. We are building an Internet capacity that will let you write to your legislators with just few clicks of the mouse. Join the Campaign now. Go to www.jacksonforest.com, or call 964-5800.
Vince Taylor is Executive Director of the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2001
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