2/9/06

KEEP DESTRUCTIVE LOGGING OUT OF JACKSON STATE FOREST

Concerned citizens have until Feb.14 to convince the Board of Forestry to change its plans that would allow logging-as-usual back into Jackson State Forest.

Back in 2003 Forests Forever and the Campaign to Save Jackson State Redwood Forest sued the California Board of Forestry over its faulty Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Jackson– and won.

Our victory required the California Department of Forestry (CDF) to draw up a new EIR for its forest management plan before logging could begin again. Nearly three years after the ruling, logging has still not resumed.

But all that may be about to change.

On Dec. 16, 2005, on the eve of the holidays, the CDF released its revised draft EIR for public comment. Once the 60-day comment period is over, and if the board approves the document, there will be nothing to keep logging from beginning again on Jackson Forest.

The CDF’s preferred alternative would reinstate the same forest management plan that was in place when Forests Forever brought its lawsuit. It would log 30 percent of the forest, allow an annual timber harvest of 31 million board feet, and permit clearcutting for "research purposes." The plan is essentially business as usual on the forest.

Located on the Mendocino coast, Jackson is the largest of eight state-owned forests in California, covering nearly 50,000 acres. It is the only state forest that is home to a significant percentage of mature redwoods, an increasingly rare and valuable forest ecosystem for both wildlife habitat and recreation.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write to the Board of Forestry. Tell it to reject the business-as-usual alternative for the Jackson Forest EIR.

Also ask the board to extend the public comment period another 60 days. The complexity and sheer volume of the 1500-page EIR makes it difficult for the public to respond during the too-brief period allowed for public comment.

Let’s make sure a plan is in place that will emphasize other values besides timber extraction, one that will protect old growth, wildlife, watersheds, recreation, and the scenic beauty of California’s largest state forest.

The deadline for public comment is Tuesday, Feb. 14. Comments may be sent to:

George D. Gentry, Executive Officer
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
PO Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
Email: board.public.comments@fire.ca.gov

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Mr. Gentry:

I would like to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for Jackson Demonstration State Forest.

Alternative C-1, the proposed project, permits too much logging and provides too little protection for old-growth forest, wildlife habitat, and watercourses.

I urge you to revisit the environmental impact report for Jackson Demonstration State Forest, and develop an alternative that would:

o restore the natural forest ecosystem;
o safeguard fish and wildlife habitat;
o protect water quality;
o eliminate clearcutting as a management tool;
o cordon off old growth from harvest; and
o end herbicide use.

Also, the Board of Forestry should extend the public comment period another 60 days. The complexity and sheer volume of the 1500-page EIR makes it difficult for the public to respond during the too-brief period allowed for public comment.

Thank you,

Your Name
Your Address

Please send us a copy of your letter!

The complete DEIR for Jackson State Demonstration Forest can be seen at the CDF website:
http://www.fire.ca.gov/php/rsrc-mgt_jackson_deir_2005.php