Forests Forever Action Alerts
Updated
12/30/03
Urge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to protect the state's forests
Will Schwarzenegger keep his promise to protect the state's forests?
During
the recent recall campaign, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
issued a seven-page document outlining his positions on environmental
issues.
Schwarzenegger’s words, including a statement that, “
‘Jobs vs. the environment’ is a false choice,”
make us optimistic that he will support forest-friendly legislation.
Yet there are no guarantees that he will stick to his campaign promises.
Please write to the newly elected governor and urge him to support
policies protecting the state’s forests. See the bullet points
below for a list of specific requests to include in your letter.
The environmental positions outlined in Schwarzenegger’s campaign
materials are mostly astute and well expressed and reflect many
of the priorities of California’s environment-minded electorate.
His statement in favor of a strong Sierra Nevada Framework is particularly
encouraging.
Schwarzenegger
noted the 10 years of work that went into the Framework, which has
been widely hailed as a model of forest protection. The document
sets forth long-term protections for the old-growth and wildlife
habitat of the range’s 11 national forests.
“As governor, I will direct all relevant agencies to comply
fully with the Framework and call on the federal government to honor
its pledge to abide by the policies set forth in this unprecedented
compact,” Schwarzenegger said.
Republicans have tended to be much more hostile to environmental
protections than Democrats, according to every scorecard prepared
in recent years by the non-partisan League of Conservation Voters.
As the new Republican governor, Schwarzenegger is now in a position
to appoint some 1,700 judges, commissioners and other officials
to various state courts and panels, as well as many agency chiefs.
He has the budget-item veto and the power to sign or kill environmentally
responsible budgets. All this means he has great influence over
the future of California’s forests.
Write Gov. Schwarzenegger and tell him you want to see the state’s
forests protected. Put the letter in your own words and ask Schwarzenegger
for a response. Forests Forever would appreciate a copy of any response
you receive. (Mail them to: Forests Forever, 50 First St., Suite
401, San Francisco, CA 94105 or email mail@forestsforever.org.)
Please ask Gov. Schwarzenegger to:
• Strengthen his support for the Sierra Framework by actively
opposing efforts by the Bush administration to weaken the already-enacted
plan, which enjoys enormous demonstrated public support.
• Stop the president’s attempt to gut the Roadless Areas
Conservation Rule, National Environmental Policy Act, National Forest
Management Act, Endangered Species Act, and Northwest Forest Plan.
•
Protect California's oak woodlands and support Senate Bill 711,
sponsored by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), which will
establish stronger regulations governing the conversion of oak woodlands.
• Improve California forestry laws by enacting a ban on clear-cutting
and on logging ancient forests. Support Senate Bill 754, The Heritage
Tree Preservation Act, introduced by state Sen. Don Perata (D-Oakland).
• Introduce legislation to reform California's state forest
system, making the purpose of our eight state forests the demonstration
of environmental restoration instead of subjecting them to taxpayer-subsidized
industrial-style logging.
• Tap conservation-minded officials to head the state's Dept.
of Fish and Game, Water Resources Control Board and other agencies.
Appoint a pro-environment majority to the California Board of Forestry.
• Initiate legislation to require the state to charge landowners
a reasonable fee– consistent with the current practice for
obtaining building permits– for filing and review of Timber
Harvesting Plans.
Feel free to include as few or as many of the above suggestions
as you like. Remember to include your name and address at the bottom
of the letter.
Your letters at this early stage of Schwarzenegger’s term
could have a powerful effect on his awareness of and priority given
to California forest issues. Thank you for helping keep our governor
accountable.
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