These two logging plans were stopped by the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest's lawsuit in May 2001 until a new management plan was prepared. The Board of Forestry appeared ready to force a delay in these plans when it conditionally approved the management plan in November, but it completely caved in to CDF at its meeting on January 8.
Apparently Board members were told privately that the profits from logging Brandon Gulch and Camp 3 were critical to state forestry programs during this year of unprecedented budget crunch. The message must have been conveyed in no uncertain terms, because Board members cleared the way for these logging plans in January without even a murmur of dissent, forgetting all of the brave words they said only two months ago. One important positive development: the Board told CDF to report to it in February on steps taken to open its management to local input.
CDF not only has the Board's clearance, but it has now fulfilled a term of our legal settlement by providing a 15-day public comment period on the plan's consistency with the new management plan. Outrageously, they opened the comment period on the Friday after Christmas, maximizing the difficulty of contacting experts and minimizing the time available to make informed comment. Nothing now stands between Brandon Gulch and the tree fallers but the lawsuit, which is costly. To help, contact the campaign at Jackson Forest Restoration Campaign, P.O. Box 1789, Fort Bragg 95460, or visit the web site at www.jacksonforest.com.
The MEC sponsored a guided hike of JDSF in October. Bill Heil led us through the Indian Creek area. What I saw was disgusting and depressing. The shoddy forest practice that CDF has allowed is shameful. I have seen much cleaner work done on industrial forestlands. Workers have cleared a large landing (100' x 200') and constructed a steep road (about a 30% grade) to it (photo above). On one side is a beautiful second growth forest full of blue-marked-for-cut redwoods. On the other side, slashed and trashed leavings of a once-beautiful second growth forest (photo on left). The public good and our children's legacy are being disregarded in order to make money for the state.
ÐVicki Oldham
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2003
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