Forests Forever
Since 1989, protecting and
enhancing California's forests
and wildlife habitat through
educational, legislative and
electoral activities
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From
the
Executive Director
Those
of you who may be seasoned observers
of the process of curbing destructive
forest practices won’t be surprised
to learn: Although our banner
article here touts a recent election
victory, new and colossal threats
to California’s forest ecosystems
are already lurking on the road just
ahead.
Two recent developments in particular
cropped up a bit too late for us to
fully digest them in time for publication
in this e-Newsletter. They’re
pretty shocking.
First, in approving the latest state
budget Gov. Schwarzenegger recently
exercised his line-item veto authority
and blue-penciled fully two thirds
of the state Dept. of Fish and Game’s
(DFG) budget for timber harvest review.
This will gut the agency’s
ability to inspect logging operations
pre-cut in the Sierras and northern
interior region of the state.
Of the agencies charged with reviewing
timber operations’ compliance
with water and wildlife protection
codes, DFG has been the standout in
recent years, looking out for sensitive
and endangered species— making
sure, for example, that nesting trees
to be spared from cutting are properly
identified and marked; in evaluating
stream crossings being built for heavy
equipment; in evaluating and protecting
rare plants; and much more.
As a result of this cut DFG will be
left with a paltry budget to look
after anadromous fish species on the
North Coast, and little else.
The other recent development concerns
the proposed cap-and-trade framework,
a pillar in carrying out A.B. 32,
California’s landmark law to
reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. An
important element of this new carbon
credits trading system concerns how
forest practices are treated. Sustainable,
“green” forest practices
that absorb carbon or slow its release
during and after logging activities
should receive carbon offsets under
the system, while destructive forest
practices, which unduly add to CO2
pollution, should be penalized.
Unfortunately, however, the California
Air Resources Board recently unveiled
a proposed forestry protocol that
would actually give its blessing to
clearcutting and logging plans that
would convert more-or-less natural
forest stands to even-age tree plantations.
The proposed rule would allow
such activities to become a legitimate
part of operations eligible for carbon
credits.
The one player who stands to gain
the most from both of the above outrageous
developments is Sierra Pacific Industries,
California’s largest private
industrial forestland owner and the
state’s premier purveyor of vast
clearcut landscapes.
Issues like these are why having advocacy
groups like Forests Forever on the
scene in Sacramento is essential.
Keep an eye on our upcoming
alerts for an update on these developments,
and how together we can correct the
situation
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California
Statewide Sustainable Forests and
Watersheds Campaign
e-Newsletter
Volume
2, Number 6— November 2010
 California
forests
win strong advocates
in Nov. 2010 election! |
Almost
all Forests Forever-backed candidates
sweep into office
Where candidates were concerned, California’s
forests came out a big winner in the
November 2010 general election.
Beginning with Jerry Brown in his bid for a return to the governor’s
office, all of the top-of-the-ticket
contenders endorsed by Forests Forever
won decisive victories – with
the possible exception of Kamala
Harris for attorney general,
in a tight race unlikely to be decided
before early December.
“Gov.-elect Jerry Brown will
undoubtedly be a better force for
the environment than his opponent
would have been,” said Forests
Forever Legislative Advocate Luke
Breit. “During his first two
terms as governor and as attorney
general, he has been a a great believer
in environmental protection. He strongly
supported A.B. 32 and opposed Proposition
23.” See related story, below.
Read
more
Voters
split on
forest-friendly ballot propositions |
They
back budget sanity and CO2 controls
but not parks fee
Two
wins and two losses characterized
Forests Forever’s recommendations
for and against ballot propositions
in the Nov. 2 general election.
 The
two wins were big ones that will make
a huge difference in the state’s
ability to effectively control greenhouse
gas emissions and create green industries
incorporating long-term sustainable
logging practices, in turn employing
thousands of workers. One of the victorious
measures expedites on-time action
on the politically contentious state
budget, freeing up lawmakers’
attention and resources for other
state matters, including forestry
reform.
Read
more
AB
1504 a welcome victory
____ in
a rough season
Governor's
signature a rare concession
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to forests defenders
Forests
Forever’s efforts to pass forestry-reform
legislation this year produced a big
win in Sacramento that will help determine
the extent to which California’s
forests serve as a cushion against global
warming.
That victory followed another win in
the state legislature on a Forests Forever-sponsored
bill that ultimately got scuttled by
the governor’s veto. The measure
would have ordered two forestry pilot
projects to determine methods of undoing
the cumulative damage done by multiple
logging projects in watersheds containing
salmon runs. Though such studies are
vital to restoring lost runs, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure for
reasons that don’t quite add up.
Forests Forever also made great headway
on another salmon-related bill introduced
in 2009, a measure that ended up being
sidelined through nobody’s fault
and likely will be re-introduced in
the near future.
Meanwhile our big legislative accomplishment
is cause for celebration, in part because
it represents a rare instance in which
the legislature and governor at a time
when both were focused primarily on
the state’s budget crisis, agreed
to act on a forest issue.
Read
more
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