Management reform for Jackson Forest is moving forward ever so slowly, but it is moving.
By six to two, with one abstention, the Board of Forestry voted in October 2007 to support in principle a revolutionary management proposal for Jackson State Forest-- a new "Alternative G" that includes major reforms proposed by the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest, the Sierra Club, and a collaborative Mendocino County working group composed of timber representatives and environmentalists.
No longer will timber production be the primary purpose for our publicly owned 50,000-acre redwood forest, as it has been ever since the state began managing the forest in the 1950's. In the future, the forest will be managed for research, habitat, restoration, and recreation. Timber production will take place to provide the funds necessary to operate the forest, but where and how it will occur will be decided in the context of the higher public values of the forest.
Very importantly, the Board of Forestry agreed to the establishment of an outside advisory committee. This committee is a key element in the consensus plan for Jackson Forest developed by the Mendocino Working Group. It will review harvest plans during a three-year interim period of restricted harvesting, and it will work with the forest managers during this interim period to develop a long-term landscape plan and a revised management plan.
These actions by the Board bring us close to the goal that the Campaign set out to accomplish in 2000-- but a number of outstanding issues remain to be resolved before we can stop campaigning and begin to work cooperatively on managing the forest for the public interest.
A potential major sticking point is the resolution of two timber contracts awarded by the state in 2001 for the cutting 35,000 of the oldest trees in the forest from the center of the prime recreation area. The Campaign went to court to halt these devastating logging plans, and we won. The plans have been enjoined by court order and stipulated agreement ever since.
The Campaign is adamant that these contracts be renegotiated in a way that will satisfy the contract holders while preserving these valuable older forest groves at least until a coherent, consensus-based long-term plan is developed for the forest. So far, the state has been unwilling to commit to this.
As I write, in mid-November, the Board of Forestry is scheduled to consider in December the revised environmental and management documents for Jackson State Forest. If they do approve the documents, the Campaign will have 30 days to challenge them in court. We have been working hard to gain a solution that will not require further legal action, but we stand ready to take such action if it appears the only way to protect irreplaceable values in our forest.
By the time you read this, the decision may already have been made. We appear to be nearing success in our eight-year fight to save our redwood forest for our children's children. Our deep and sincere thanks to every one who helped to achieve this amazing outcome.
For more information: www.jacksonforest.com
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TOC for Forest & River News, Winter 2007