Search
|
Restore Our Publicly Owned Redwood Forest Jackson State Forest is a public treasure -- 50,000 acres of beautiful redwood forest located within a few hours drive of San Francisco. Until stopped by Campaign lawsuits, starting in 2000, the state had been massively logging this public forest, owned by you and me. The profits were used to subsidize the private timber industry. All logging was halted by the Campaign's lawsuits from 2001 until 2008. Thanks to the lawsuits and intense public pressure over 8 years, the state in January, 2008, adopted a forward looking management plan that greatly revised the approach to management. A key provision of the plan was the appointment of an independent advisory body, the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG). The JAG has until January 2011 to recommend changes in all aspects of the management plan for the forest. The Executive Director of the Campaign, Vince Taylor, is a member of the JAG. The Campaign intends to remain active during the 3-year review period to ensure that the public is informed and the public's interests are represented. We intend to press for adoption of the basic positions of the Campaign:
The Campaign's Bill of Rights for Jackson State Forest Find out more about the Campaign. Provide information to the Campaign in complete privacy.
Recreation
The forest is a recreation paradise. with rustic
camping and hundreds of miles of trails and roads for hikers and
bikers.
|
Board of Forestry Rejects Consensus of the Jackson Advisory Group July 13, 2011. The Board of Forestry acted on the recommendations of the Jackson Advisory Group. In its action, the Board selectively chose from among the group's consensus recommendations.
By its selective action, the Board
unraveled the unanimously supported consensus that the Group worked for
2-1/2 years to achieve. Vince Taylor Resigns from the Jackson Advisory Group September 6, 2011. In response to the Board of Forestry's rejection of the consensus recommendations of the Jackson Advisory Group, Vince Taylor, founder and Executive Director of the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Forest, resigned from the Jackson Advisory Group. In a letter to the Board of Forestry, he said, "If I were to remain a member of the Advisory Group, I would be tacitly accepting the actions of the Board. To do so would betray the thousands of people who have relied on me to represent their desire for meaningful reform of JDSF management." In an eight-page letter, Taylor detailed the ways in which the Board had failed to act responsibly, appropriately, and respectfully. He said to the Board, "All of the changes made [to the recommendations] by the Board were to move forest management of JDSF back toward "business as usual," away from the balanced vision put forth by the Jackson Advisory Group. In so doing, you threw away the golden opportunity to end the conflict, legal challenges, and acrimony that have surrounded JDSF for fifteen years." Taylor letter to the Board of Forestry In a separate letter to Cal Fire, Taylor explicitly excused Cal Fire from any responsibility for his resignation, "I wish to stress that my resignation in no way reflects on the behavior of CAL FIRE with respect to the Advisory Group. Your senior staff were exemplary in their attitude, responsiveness, and personal courtesy." Taylor letter to Cal Fire Director See the adjacent editorial for more on the Board action and Taylor resignation. Jackson Advisory Group Achieves Consensus Report Published January 15, 2011. The Jackson Advisory Group published its recommendations for long-term management of Jackson State Forest today. Full consensus was achieved on the package of recommendation contained in the final report, entitled A Vision for the Future. A full page containing excerpts from the Introduction and Summary and an editorial overview is here. Download the full report here. The Advisory Group will present its report to the California Board of Forestry on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Sacramento. Agenda with location and time. Jackson Advisory Group Presents Consensus Recommendations November 18 November 5, 2010. On Thursday, November 22, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Fort Bragg Town Hall, Main and Laurel Streets, the Jackson Advisory Group will hold a public meeting to present its consensus recommendations on long-term future management of Jackson State Forest. It will also solicit public comments. The Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) was formed in 2008 and given until January 2011 to develop recommendations for long-term management of Jackson Forest. The advisory group was chosen to represent all the major stakeholders in the forest – loggers, timber companies, recreationists, conservationists, scientists, and the general public. The goal set out in its charter was for its members to strive to reach consensus on elements of a long-term plan for timber management, forest restoration, recreation and education, and research. The JAG has been meeting for over two years. It has now come to consensus agreement on most of the major recommendations it will make in January to the Board of Forestry and the Director of Cal Fire. At the November 18 meeting, members of the JAG will present its recommendations and solicit input from those present. Jackson Advisory Group Meets November 22 November 11, 2010. On Monday, November 22, 2010, the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) will resume discussions aimed at reaching a consensus on core recommendations to be made to Cal Fire and the Board of Forestry. The meeting will be held at the Mendocino County Cooperative Extension, 890 North Bush Street, Ukiah, from 9:00 am to about 5:00 pm. A major focus will be on reviewing recommendations on expanding and strengthening protections for recreation resources, such as trails and campgrounds. Documents incorporating previously approved recommendations on research and landscape management will also be reviewed. Jackson Advisory Group Meets July 30 July 22, 2010. On July 30, the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) will resume discussions aimed at reaching a consensus on core recommendations to be made to Cal Fire and the Board of Forestry. The meeting will be held at the Mendocino County Cooperative Extension, 890 North Bush Street, Ukiah, from 9:00 am to about 5:00 pm. Agenda. The JAG will continue to review recommendations of the Landscape Committee. The major recommendations have received provisional approval, but some JAG members have asked for more information on the effects of the recommendations on future harvest levels. This information appears unlikely to be available because of staff shortages and other demands on staff time.. A major focus will be a review of recommendations related to establishment of a major research program at Jackson Forest. A crucial issue is how the landscape of Jackson Forest is to be managed to facilitate and support the research program. Also on the agenda is consideration of three major timber harvest plans proposed for 2011. Two of these plans are over 500 acres and envision selling more than 10 million board feet of timber in each one. The Waldo THP contains some of the largest trees and most beautiful stands in Jackson Forest. Summary information on West Chamberlain, Waldo, Riley Ridge. The public is invited to attend. Public comments are scheduled for 4:50 pm. In previous meetings, public comment has been allowed when agenda items have been discussed. Jackson Advisory Group Meets June 25-26 June 22, 2010. On June 25 and 26, the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) will resume discussions aimed at reaching a consensus on core recommendations to be made to Cal Fire and the Board of Forestry. The meeting will be held at the Fort Bragg Senior Center, 490 N. Harold Street, Fort Bragg. Substantial agreement has been reached on a number of important issues related to landscape planning and design of the research program. Additional discussion is scheduled for recommendations in these areas. Discussion will also take place on draft recommendations on Economics, Recreation, Outreach, Herbicides, and Demonstrations. See the Agenda for approximate times. Supporting materials for the meeting have been compiled in a single document. The Friday meeting will begin with a special meeting of the Research Committee at 8:30 am to prepare for the general meeting. The full meeting will begin at 10:00 am and adjourn at about 5:15 pm.. The Saturday meeting will begin at 8:30 am and end at about 4:00 pm.
Closed Areas in vicinity of Brandon
Gulch, Camp 3, Camp 6, Pleiades III, and North Fork Spur THPs If you are planning to hike or ride in Jackson Forest, be aware that timber operations will be occurring in the central area of the forest, near Camp One and Chamberlain Creek. Because of safety considerations, the following roads and campgrounds will be closed until further notice: The Camp 6 and Indian Springs campgrounds shall be closed. Roads 380, 360 from 361 to 1000, 362, 363, 1000, 305, 90, 210, 211, 212, 330 and Road 310 shall be closed to vehicular traffic. Road 330 adjacent to the THP area is closed to all public use on weekdays. Road 330 will be closed north of Road 332 beginning mid July and into Sept. Road 360 from 300 to 361 and Road 361 will be closed when timber operations affect those areas (anticipated in late May). The areas within the above mentioned timber sale boundaries are closed to the public.
Maps of closures near Camp One (pdf)
(jpg) Jackson Advisory Group Continues Working Toward Consensus May, 2010. On Monday, May 10, The meeting will be held at Mendocino County Cooperative Extension, 890 North Bush Street, Ukiah, from 9:00 am to about 5:00 pm. Agenda. The May 10 meeting will be followed by a May 24 meeting in Fort Bragg. Both meetings have the primary objective of arriving at consensus on key recommendations to be included in the JAG's final report to Cal Fire and the Board of Forestry.
The recommendations of the JAG are due
by the end of this year. The goal of the JAG is to have a first draft of
its report done by July. There are still significant differences among JAG
members on issues such as 2) the amount of land to be designated for restoration to old growth; 3) how land in Jackson will be allocated to different management to support research and demonstration, and 4) the extent to which land used for timber production will be managed to have a significant component of older trees, some of which would be allowed to grow to their natural old age. At the previous meeting on April 15, 2010 in Fort Bragg, the JAG started reviewing proposed consensus recommendations created by an "integration committee" that attempted to integrate recommendations made previously by several committees of the JAG. The JAG spent time going over the integration recommendations, but was unable to get through all of them. No actions were taken on any of the proposed recommendations. The Monday meeting will continue the effort to reach consensus. The major concerns that I had prior to the April meeting have not been addressed. You can see the integration committee supporting files, as well as Vince Taylor's concerns here. Agenda with location, items, and times.
Jackson Advisory Group Aims for Consensus on Key Recommendations Meets April 15 in Fort Bragg April, 2010. The Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) Advisory Group (JAG) will meet Thursday, April 15, 2010 at the Fort Bragg Fire Station, 141 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am and adjourn at approximately 5:30 pm. The April 15 meeting will be a crucial in terms of identifying the key recommendations that will be made by the JAG in their final report due at the end of this year. The JAG has been divided for almost a year on how different parts of Jackson Forest should be managed for what ultimate goals. In the last few months, the JAG has moved to provide a basis for closing the divides. These actions culminated late last month in the formation of an "integration committee." The integration committee took the recommendations of all of the major committees (Landscape, Research, and Economic) and integrated them into a proposed compatible set of recommendations. The JAG will review the recommendations proposed by the integration committee, together with the original recommendation documents. The goal will be to gain consensus agreement on as many of the key issues as possible, and to identify those where further work is needed. Key areas of controversy are:
If you have an interest in the future of Jackson Forest, please attend this meeting. Public input can make a crucial difference in the dynamic of the meeting -- and the ultimate recommendations made by the JAG.. The meeting will be Thursday, April 15, 2010 at the Fort Bragg Fire Station, 141 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am and adjourn at approximately 5:30 pm. Please park behind the fire station, not on the side. These spaces are reserved for firefighters. See the Agenda for details and times. The complete set of files distributed to the JAG along with the covering emails can be found here. Jackson Advisory Group Meets February 26, 2010 February, 2010. The Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) Advisory Group (JAG) will meet Friday, February 26, 2010 at the Fort Bragg Senior Center, 490 N. Harold Street, Fort Bragg. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am and adjourn at approximately 5:30 pm. The main focus of the meeting will be reviewing and integrating the discussions and recommendations of a recently held Science Workshop (see story below). The purpose of the workshop was to learn how the science community its views on how to make Jackson Forest a world class research and demonstration forest. A key aspect of the discussion was on integrating research and demonstration with ongoing forest management. The Woodlands Outdoor Center and State Parks will make presentations of their views on management of the areas of Jackson Forest that surround the Center. Michael Sweeney of the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority will brief the JAG on a proposed transfer of lands between JDSF and State Parks to allow construction of a Waste Transfer Station on JDSF lands on Highway 20 in Fort Bragg. The Recreation Committee of the JAG will report on recommendations developed at its meeting in December. These include establishment of a joint ad hoc committee to address issues caused by non-recreationist use of JDSF campgrounds, facilitating near-term action on improving recreation opportunities in JDSF, obtaining input to improve educational use of JDSF, and steps to minimize the impacts of logging on recreation. For details on the location and agenda items and approximate time, see the agenda. Jackson Advisory Group Science Stakeholder Workshop February, 2010. On February 1-2, 2010 the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) sponsored a meeting of scientists with knowledge about and interest in forestry research at Jackson State Forest. The purpose of the workshop was to provide JAG with broad perspectives that would enable them to better understand opportunities and directions for research and demonstration on the Forest, and how to best integrate landscape-scale forest structural allocations in support of these opportunities. The assembled group of applied scientists represented a broad range of specific areas of scientific expertise, with the objective of providing, an interdisciplinary perspective on structuring research at Jackson State Forest. The invitees, purpose, and background information are in the briefing paper distributed to workshop attendees. Jackson Advisory Group Meets November 30, Santa Rosa November, 2009. The Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) Advisory Group (JAG) will meet Monday, November 30, 2009 in Santa Rosa, California. The JAG is meeting in Santa Rosa to allow members and staff that live in the Bay Area and Sacramento to travel on the day of the meeting, rather than on Sunday of the the Thanksgiving holiday. Agenda and Location. The main focus of the meeting will be the continuing effort to come to agreement on landscape allocation -- determining how areas of Jackson Forest will be managed and for what goals. Primary goals for Jackson Forest are research, restoration, timber production, and restoration. The Landscape Committee has designated specific areas, totaling about 19,000 acres, to be managed for restoration to older forest and old growth conditions. It has recommended that the remaining acreage not designated as a special concern area or a research or demonstration are to be managed using Natural Forestry (see the adjacent column article). The meeting will address setting up a process to identify silvicultural methods to use in applying Natural Forestry in Jackson Forest. The Research Committee is planning a gathering of researchers and stakeholders to provide guidance on landscape allocation for research. It will provide an update on the meeting, planned for late January or early February, 2010. The current Manager of Jackson State Forest, Marc Jameson, will retire on November 30. The JAG will consider providing recommendations to Cal Fire on the qualifications and qualities desired in a replacement, in light of the new missions for Jackson Forest. There will also be an update on the Recreation Task Force organized to assist Jackson State Forest in enhancing recreation and developing a recreation plan. Nancy Banker, chair of the Task Force, will make the presentation. Also discussed will be scheduling THPs to reduce impact of road closures on recreation. For scheduled times and location, see the Agenda. Logging Begins in Jackson Forest August 3, 2009. Marc Jameson, Manager of Jackson Forest announced today that logging has began today in Brandon Gulch and will begin tomorrow on the North Fork Spur timber sale (which was successfully sold on the second sale offering). This logging is the first that has occurred in Jackson Forest since 2001, with the exception of a 4-day period in 2004 when a court order preventing logging was briefly lifted. In an email to the Jackson Advisory Group, Mr. Jameson said, Limited harvest operations have begun as of this morning in Brandon Gulch. Mendocino Forest Products has contracted with Anderson Logging to conduct timber operations in the Brandon Gulch THP area. We will be implementing the JAG prescription in a limited portion of the THP area between Roads 360 and 363. Some area closures will be in effect to protect recreationalists during the conduct of the operations, including portions of Roads 360 and 363. The Camp 6 Campground, which normally receives very little recreational use, will be closed.
The planned haul route is via Road 363 to Road 360 to
Camp One and then Road 300 to Highway 20 near McGuire’s pond... The planned haul route is via Road 330 to Road 310 down the hill toward McGuire’s pond and to Highway 20. There will be areas closures in place to protect recreational visitors. The closures will affect the THP area, portions of Road 330, Road 310, and the Indian Springs Campground. The THP will incorporate selective timber harvest in accordance with the Board’s interim harvest limitations. See Map for North Fork Closures The Brandon Gulch logging is designed to accelerate return to old forest conditions. The biggest trees will be retained and trees around them cut to provide more light and less competition. No areas will have all trees removed. Overall, less than 30 percent of the volume will be removed. Buffers will be provided along the roads to preserve aesthetics for recreation users. See the Advisory Group recommendations for Brandon Gulch. The North Fork Spur Harvest Plan conforms to the interim harvest restrictions in the 2008 Jackson Forest Management plan. These limit removal of trees to 30%, require that the average diameter be maintained, and prohibit clearcuts and group selections (small clearcuts). An inspection by the JAG showed that harvest will concentrate on smaller trees and should assist in restoring the forest to older forest conditions. July20, 2009. On its rebid of the North Fork Spur Timber Harvest, Jackson Forest accepted a bid from Schmidbauer Lumber for the minimum acceptable amounts specified. The bid amount of approximately $350,000 was about $245,000 more than the $110,000 Schmidbauer bid on the initial sale offer. In the initial sale offer, no minimum price was set for redwood and Schmidbauer offered to pay just $50 per thousand board feet. Jackson Forest rejected the offer. In the rebid, a price of $205 per thousand board feet was set, and Schmidbauer met that minimum. Local timber people and the Mendocino Board of Supervisors urged Jackson Forest to reconsider and accept the initial, rejected bid. The outcome shows that Jackson Forest was wise to instead open the sale for a second round of bidding. Still, the editorial on this page argues that Jackson Forest sold the public's trees substantially below the current market price. North Fork Spur Timber Sale To Be Reopened for Bids June 26, 2009. At the monthly meeting of the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG), Russ Henly, Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director for Resources, announced that Cal Fire intended to reopen bidding on the controversial North Fork Spur timber sale. When initially opened for bidding, only Schmidbauer Lumber of Eureka bid. Its bid of $108,000 was rejected by Cal Fire. A campaign was started by Jere Melo and Mike Anderson to exert political pressure to have the bid accepted or have the sale opened up for bids again (see related stories). After hearing Mr. Henly, the JAG listened to members of the timber industry repeat the arguments made at the Board of Supervisors meeting. The JAG discussed the issue briefly among themselves. It was immediately clear that the JAG supported the planned action of Cal Fire to reopen bidding, and a resolution to that effect was passed unanimously. This was a quiet ending to the controversy. Cal Fire's agreement to reopen the bidding seemed to satisfy everyone. It is still uncertain whether an acceptable bid will be received, given the nearly non-existent demand from mills for redwood. First Meeting of the New Recreation Users Task Force June 15, 2009. The
first meeting of the
Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF)
Recreation User Group Task Force will be held on
July 2, 2009 at 3:00 P.M. at JDSF headquarters,
The formation of the Recreation Task Force is a significant step towards elevating recreation in the priorities of JDSF management. The formation of the Task Force was mandated in the new management plan for Jackson Forest, approved in January 2008. The Task Force, whose members were selected in an open process, will advise JDSF management on the creation of a recreation plan for the forest and on development of a user survey. It members will also provide liaison with the various groups of recreation users. The initial meeting will focus on the group structure, organization, charter, goals and objectives. Call Craig Pedersen, JDSF, (707) 964-5674, for more information. Mendocino Supervisors Urge Jackson Forest to Give Away Timber To Bailout Loggers June 24, 2009. Anderson Logging, led by Mike Anderson, and other timber men had a receptive audience yesterday. The Mendocino Board of Supervisors seemed more than anxious to show their support for the timber industry and to express their anger that Jackson Forest is still not cutting timber. Introduced by Jere Melo, Mike Anderson urged the supervisors to tell Cal Fire to reconsider a rejected bid for a Jackson Forest timber plan. If the sale goes forward, his firm will receive $1.3 million to do the logging and hauling. The rejected sale bid, by Schmidbauer Lumber, of Eureka, was $108,000 for 4.5 million board feet (BF) of timber. Admitting that the bid was very low, Mr. Anderson stressed that it would provide jobs for 30 to 40 timber workers for 3 to 4 months. His son, Miles Anderson, then told the supervisors that "In making our bid, we did not charge anything for its equipment. Our concern is for jobs for the workers." Larry Holgren of Schmidbauer explained why the bid was so low, amounting to only 2.5 cents per board foot, or a total of $108,000. His firm is interested only in Douglas Fir, which was 64 percent of the sale, and tried to find other mills to buy the redwood. Willits Redwood, which specializes in large redwood logs, would buy the larger logs, but these amounted to only 15% of the redwood. No buyers could be found for the remaining 85% of the redwood logs; so his firms bid assumed they would truck all these to Eureka, store them over the winter, and truck them back to a Mendocino County mill next year (when hopefully there would be a market). The combined trucking and logging costs totaled $1,404,000. The estimated delivered value of the timber was $1,535,000. Mr. Holgren said that his firms bid of $108,000 provided an estimated profit of only $23,500. Details of the Schmidbauer cost analysis. Vince Taylor told the supervisors that for Cal Fire to have accepted the bid would have been "economic lunacy." "In a normal year, the sale would generate about $1.8 million dollars; thus selling it now for $108,000 makes no sense for Jackson Forest." The argument is that it would create 30-40 jobs for 3-4 months. The money that would be paid to these workers would amount to about $350,000 (30 workers for 3 months). Jackson Forest would be sacrificing five times this amount of revenue. It makes no sense. Mr. Taylor said that the reason the sale didn't take place is that "the timber industry in in the tank. The supervisors should direct their upset at the investment bankers, the Federal Reserve, and the mortgage industry. They created the housing bubble and consequent collapse that has brought the timber industry (and the world economy) to its knees. Mr. Taylor also urged the supervisors to defer to the Jackson Advisory Committee, which is scheduled to discuss the sale this Friday. He said that it took eight years to take Jackson Forest out of a political fight and that the supervisors getting involved risked re-politicizing the forest. Supervisor Kendall Smith recommended the Board send a letter urging Cal Fire to submit the sale for rebidding, but the remainder of the Board wanted to tell Cal Fire "strongly" to reconsider and accept the Schmidbauer bid. A resolution containing this sentiment was passed unanimously. Campaign to Have Jackson Forest Give Away Its Timber June 23, 2009. Jere Melo, Fort Bragg City Councilman, and Mike Anderson, owner of Anderson Logging, have launched a campaign to force Cal Fire and Jackson State Forest to make a large timber sale at far below fair value. Upset that Cal Fire rejected the sole bid of $108,000 for 4.5 million board feet of timber, Mr. Melo and Mike Anderson are taking their case to the political bodies of Mendocino County. Mr. Anderson's firm would do the logging if the sale goes forward. On Monday, June 22, at the meeting of the Fort Bragg City Council, Mr. Melo introduced a resolution to request Cal Fire to resubmit the sale for bids and urge Cal Fire to price it at a level that would sell, regardless of the long-term value of the timber. Mike Anderson argued to the council that it would create 3-4 months of 30 to 40 timber jobs. The City Council voted against supporting the resolution by 3 to 2 (with Jere Melo being one of the "yea" votes). The Council decided that the reason the bid was rejected was that it was too low. Today, Tuesday, a similar issue will be be brought up before the County. Jackson Forest Fails to Sell Timber Harvest Plans June, 2009. Reflecting the depressed market for timber, Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) failed to attract any bids on two timber sales and rejected a low bid on a third sales. No bids were received for a timber sale in 14 Gulch and Dunlap North. Both of these sale areas are in the south central area of Jackson Forest, near Highway 20. The 14-Gulch sale was for 1,685,000 board feet of timber, of which about 800,000 board feet were redwood. The Dunlap North sale was for 2,600,000 board feet, of which 1,300,000 board feet were redwood. Recognizing the depressed market, especially for Douglas Fir, JDSF had set the minimum bid for Douglas Fir at just $10 per thousand; but even this almost-free price for fir was not enough to attract bids. Another sale, the North Fork Spur, received one bid of $108,000. JDSF management rejected this bid. The sale was for 4.5 million board feet; thus the bid amounted to only $25 per thousand board feet. In normal years, Jackson would expect to receive bids of $300 to $500 per thousand board feet. Jackson Advisory Group Meets June 26-27, 2009 June, 2009. The Jackson Forest Advisory Group (JAG) will hold its monthly meeting on Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, 2009. The meetings will be at the Fort Bragg Senior Center, 409 North Harold Street. Agenda Of particular interest to the public will be an item scheduled for 10:45 am on Friday to discuss the timber sale program. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of member Jere Melo, who is upset at the failure of the three sales put out for bid this year (see other stories on this page). He is particularly upset that JDSF rejected the sole bid of $108,000 for the North Fork Spur sale. In an email distributed to JAG members, Mr. Melo made clear his views: At this time, the [Jackson Forest] sale program has totally failed. Our approved Work Plan assumed a successful sale program. While the rejection of the North Fork Spur sale is a trust matter (Just what is a bidder to do with an advertised sale?), there are reasons why folks are not able to bid on Dunlap North and 14 Gulch. And there are reasons why there is a failure to resolve contracts at Brandon Gulch and Camp 3. It is time for a transparent discussion of the sale program. I have asked some local experts, Chris Baldo from Willits Redwood, Larry Holmgren from Schmidbauer Lumber and Gary Roach from Roach Logging to speak about their impressions of the sale program. We also need to hear from Cal Fire about the real reasons for the North Fork Spur rejection and about any feedback they have received from purchasers about the no-bid sales. The matter of paying for JDSF activities is no small matter. We really do need to look around and understand the very serious economic problems facing the public and private sectors in California. Local mills have high log and lumber inventories due to slow sales, and those inventories are overpriced in light of current prices. They need to work down the inventories and prices over time. And the state has a rough $24 billion deficit that will grow each day unless cuts are made and revenues are improved. The Legislature is groping for cash, even to the point of violating provisions of the state constitution and state laws they have adopted. $130,000 or so from the North Fork Spur is not much, for sure, but a rejection is $130,000 less. It is time for JAG to shake off the "Ho-Hum" attitude about the need for JDSF to finance its programs. Mr. Melo has prepared a document giving the background of the timber sales and proposing recommendations to be adopted by JAG. Mr. Melo would like members of the timber industry to suggest how the sales program could be made more to their liking. He also wants JDSF staff to justify their rejection of the bid. The major focus of Friday's meeting will be on defining and clarifying the concept of Natural Forestry and its application to Jackson State Forest. At 10:00 am, John Helms and Dan Porter will summarize forestry literature references and recommendations related to Natural Forestry. The agenda picks up the discussion of Natural Forestry at 12:15 pm, following lunch. The discussion in the afternoon will be led by the Landscape Committee, which been working on defining Natural Forestry and listing principles to use in applying the concept to Jackson Forest. This discussion will continue until adjournment at between 4:30 and 5:00 pm. The Saturday meeting will begin at 8:30. There will be a presentation by the Research Committee and an update on JDSF activities. At 10:00 am, committee breakout sessions or further JAG discussion will occur, as determined by the group. No afternoon session is planned for Saturday. Landscape Planning Committee Addresses Emulating Natural Forestry Processes March 13, 2009. The Landscape Committee of the JAG addressed at length managing Jackson State Forest by emulating natural forest processes. The central proposal at the meeting was a variation of the principles of Natural Forestry discussed in an adjoining editorial. There appeared to be a move within the Committee of managing the bulk of the forest for simultaneous restoration to old growth and timber harvesting. Detailed notes of the meeting and a link to an audio tape of the meeting are at Jackson Forum. You can add your own comments. Jackson Forest Announces Formation of Recreation Task Force Issues Call for Applications March 5, 2007. Jackson Demonstration State Forest staff, the official managers of Jackson Forest, have issued a request for applicants to serve on a newly established recreation advisory group. Applications are due by April 3, 2009. Candidates should expect to be interviewed. Officially titled the Recreation User Group Task Force, the group will provide on-going advice on recreation in Jackson Forest. Most importantly, the Task Force will have a major role in developing a new long-term recreation plan for Jackson Forest.
The invitation describes the setting for
the Task Force: The Task Force will represent a broad range of interests: Members may include, but not be limited to JDSF neighbors, cyclists, equestrians, target shooters, teachers, hunters, hikers, campers, bird watchers, mushroomers, nature photographers, trail guide writers, and event organizers. Anyone with an interest in and time and energy to devote to enhancing recreation in our 50,000-acre publicly owned redwood forest is urge to apply. Full details. |
Note: The Campaign ended with the rejection by the Board of Forestry of the JAG Consensus in July 2011, followed in November 2011 by the retirement of Campaign's Executive Director, Vince Taylor.
This website is being continued for historical information but is not being updated. See below for Mr. Taylor's last statement on the ending of the Campaign's efforts. EditorialsA Dark Day for the Board of Forestry and Jackson Forest November 9, 2011. How quickly things can change. My previous editorial was entitled "A New Future for Jackson State Forest," reflecting the remarkable achievement of the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) in developing unanimous consensus recommendations for future management of Jackson State Forest. Given the history of conflict, the broad representation and stature of JAG members, and the terms of the JAG's charter, it seemed unthinkable that the Board of Forestry would do other than accept the recommendations. Even for a body famous for doing the wrong thing, the Board of Forestry sank to new lows in its treatment of the unanimous consensus recommendations of the Jackson Forest Advisory Group. On July 13, 2011, the Board of Forestry acted on the Advisory Group recommendations. By selectively choosing from the Advisory Group's recommendations, the Board unraveled the unanimously supported consensus that the Group worked arduously for 2-1/2 years to achieve. The board eliminated the key protections that would have ensured that the forest was placed on a path toward restoration of older forest characteristics across the forest landscape. It contemptuously dismissed the Group's recommendations designed to enhance recreation experiences and to move toward elimination of herbicides. All of the changes made by the Board were to move forest management of JDSF back toward "business as usual," away from the balanced vision put forth by the Jackson Advisory Group. In so doing, you threw away the golden opportunity to end the conflict, legal challenges, and acrimony that have surrounded JDSF for fifteen years. After giving the matter lengthy consideration, I resigned from the Advisory Group on September 6, 2011. I said to the Board of Forestry in letter that detailed its failure to act in a responsible, respectful manner, "f I were to remain a member of the Advisory Group, I would be tacitly accepting the actions of the Board. To do so would betray the thousands of people who have relied on me to represent their desire for meaningful reform of JDSF management." The following is excerpted from my letter to the Board of Forestry: Given the language of the charter ... the wisdom of eliminating conflict and future legal challenges to JDSF management, and the remarkable achievement of the Advisory Group in coming to unanimous consensus, I and others had every reason to expect that the Board would accept the recommendations of the Advisory Group without significant changes. Instead, you rejected central elements of the recommendations that were of crucial importance to the conservation, recreation, and general public members of the group, and did so in way that was extremely disrespectful of the Advisory Group. The actions of the Board were, and I use the word advisedly, deplorable:
On behalf of the JAG I request that opportunities be provided for the JAG to formally contribute to on-going discussion by the Board and its Committees as these bodies review the JAG Report... Continued involvement of, and dialogue with, the broadly-representative JAG would, I believe, benefit the Board and its Committees as they consider the JAG's consensus-developed recommendations. No response was made to the letter, and the request was ignored. The Board never gave the Advisory Group any opportunity to respond to concerns or to comment on proposed Board changes to its recommendations.
Different members of the Advisory Group have expressed to me that "The Board's actions were a slap in the face," and "The Board threw us under the bus." However expressed, there is no question that the Board showed no respect for the members of the Jackson Advisory Group or their accomplishments.
[Full
letter to Board of Forestry] A New Future for Jackson State Forest
A brief view of the important aspects of the JAG's report, A Vision for the Future, is presented on a following page. It presents excerpts for the "Introduction and Summary" of the report. The excerpts are accurate reflections of the contents of the report, but the busy reader may fail to gain a full appreciation of the significance of the report and its recommendations. Let me provide some perspective. Historical Background During the 1990's, Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF or Jackson Forest) became a major source of revenue for the Department of Forestry. Toward the end of the decade, Jackson logging revenues were putting $10-15 million per year into the state treasury and supporting a variety of forestry programs. The profitability of the forest resulted in substantial pressure on Jackson Forest managers to keep logging at high levels. At the same time, the operating budget of the forest was kept at a low level. Staff had difficulty in simply "getting out the cut." Recreation got little funds or attention, and even important road maintenance and decommissioning was deferred. Larger and smaller clearcuts (groups) were used routinely. Starting in the mid-1990s, the aggressive logging program aroused increasing opposition from Mendocino County residents. Protests and direct action took place. Responding to public outcry, the California Department of Forestry (CDF) appointed a "Citizens Advisory Committee" in 1998; but its process was compromised by participation of JDSF staff, and all of its recommendations were ignored. After all requests for revisions in management practices were ignored, the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Forest (the Campaign) was formed in 2000. After its efforts to negotiate with state were rebuffed, it filed a series of lawsuits over the next four years -- all of which were successful and led to a cessation of logging that lasted until 2008. CDF and the local timber industry were both angry at the loss of timber and money. For years, coming together seemed impossible, as CDF tried to ignore the Campaign and local timber interests criticized it for causing the loss of timber jobs and timber supply. In 2006, Ruben Grijalva, a new director of CDF, started a dialog with me, the principal of the Campaign. We quickly agreed to seek to bring all stakeholders in the forest together to develop consensus recommendations for future management of the forest. Measures to implement this approach were placed within a proposed 2008 Management Plan for JDSF. With the approval of this plan, the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) was formed and given the charge to provide consensus recommendations for long-term management of Jackson Forest. Reaching Consensus Given the diversity and breadth of interests of the JAG and the contentious history, it might seem that only a miracle could bring about consensus. Whether it was a miracle or not, consensus was achieved -- and it was a robust consensus, with all members supporting the overall package. Further, every individual recommendation was supported by a strong majority, and in most instances by all, of the JAG. A major impetus toward consensus was a unanimous desire to put the past confrontations and animosity behind. But, even more important was a realization, which developed over time, that everyone could have their core needs met without denying those of others. It took hard work and creativity to come up with the final package, but the end result is impressive for its detail and comprehensiveness. My own key concerns were: One, that clearcutting and other forms of even-aged management would be used only for legitimate research and demonstration projects and would be on the smallest reasonable scale; and two, that the forest as a whole be put on a course consistent with eventually restoring the trees in large portions of the forest to their natural ages. Both of these concerns were met. What I originally termed Natural Forestry was renamed to Matrix Silviculture, but kept the core concepts. It made the "default" management for areas not in research or with more constrained management. To be clear, only a minority of the forest will be directly managed to restore old forest conditions, but most of the remainder will be managed to grow older, bigger trees during the planning period of forty years. If future managers wish to grow more of the forest to its natural age, they be able to do so with little loss from the timber operations that will occur in the planning period. All members supported more attention to recreation and protection of aesthetic and spiritual values. We can look forward to Jackson Forest becoming a major recreation resource for Mendocino and the state. The report includes recommendations intended to make Jackson Forest into a major center of research and demonstration on redwood forestry. Importantly to me, clear safeguards are recommended to ensure that only legitimate, peer-reviewed, funded research projects will be allowed to use timber operations inconsistent with Matrix Silviculture. All those who supported the Campaign and its goals should take satisfaction in what has been accomplished. We have come from having our ideas completely ignored to having them become central elements in the JAG Report. Equally or perhaps more important, timber representatives and scientists feel the JAG recommendation meet their needs, too. The consensus of all parties means that we will all work together to see that the JAG's recommendations are adopted by the California Board of Forestry and CAL FIRE, the department responsible for managing Jackson Forest. The Board of Forestry will receive the report from the Jackson Advisory Group on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Sacramento. [Agenda] This will initiate the next step in the path toward getting the recommendations integrated into the JDSF management plan. For those who want to understand the recommendations in more depth, download the entire report. What Lies Ahead for Jackson State Forest?Thursday, November 18, 2010 will be your chance to learn and voice your opinion about what is being proposed for the future management of Jackson State Forest, the 50,000-acre forest that dominates the inland landscape of Fort Bragg and Mendocino. Come to the Fort Bragg Town Hall at the corner of Main and Laurel at 7:00 pm, November 18, 2010. The Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) was formed in 2008 and given until January 2011 to develop recommendations for long-term management of Jackson Forest. The advisory group was chosen to give representation to all the major stakeholders in the forest – loggers, timber companies, recreationists, conservationists, scientists, and the general public. The goal set out in its charter was for its members to strive to reach consensus on elements of a long-term plan for timber management, forest restoration, recreation and education, and research. The JAG has been meeting for over two years. It has now come to consensus agreement on most of the major recommendations it will make in January to the Board of Forestry and the Director of Cal Fire. Members of the JAG will present its recommendations and solicit input from those present. Meeting Background Document. If you have a concern about how Jackson Forest is managed, this is your best chance to hear what is proposed and to voice your opinion. For those who haven’t been around for a long time or haven’t followed the controversies over Jackson Forest, some background may be helpful. Until the mid-1990s Jackson Forest was managed by the California Department of Forestry primarily for timber production and without controversy. Starting in mid-decade, public opposition to the large-scale logging continued to build, culminating in 2000 in lawsuits that halted all logging in the forest beginning in 2001. It took until 2008 to bring the major interest groups into agreement on a new management plan that allowed timber harvesting to resume, created the JAG, and provided important interim constraints on timber harvesting while the JAG developed its recommendations. As one of the principals involved in the controversies since the mid-1990s and a member of the JAG, I am excited about the prospect of a management plan that will resolve the prior conflicts and garner broad support from all those with a stake in our public forest. The recommendations of the JAG represent a reasonable balance among those interested in timber production, restoration to older forest, research, and recreation. Please take advantage of this opportunity to voice your opinions before the JAG finalizes its recommendations.
Vince Taylor Jackson Advisory Group Nears Draft of RecommendationsMay 4, 2010. The Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) was appointed by the Director of Cal Fire, with the concurrence of the Board of Forestry, in April of 2008. The Group was given a broad charter to review the management plan for 50,000-acre Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) and to recommend changes to the Director and Board of Forestry. The deadline for the JAG’s recommendation is January 2011, three years after the current management plan for Jackson Forest was approved. To meet this deadline, the JAG has set a goal of having an initial draft report ready by June of this year – a very short time away, given the present lack of agreement on the most important issue facing the JAG. The JAG has focused most of its attention in the last year on allocating the landscape of Jackson Forest to different management (silvicultural) approaches and different ultimate goals. Early on there was acceptance by the JAG that a “significant” portion of the forest would be managed to develop old forest characteristics, but beyond this agreement there is no consensus. A committee of the JAG, the Landscape Committee, has designated areas of the forest to preserve (e.g. all old growth stands), to manage for developing old growth characteristics (“late seral” in forestry terminology), and for developing older forest characteristics while still maintaining some timber harvesting. The designated areas lie mostly within a relatively narrow band that runs along the northern edge of the forest and drops down to the southern edge about 5 miles from the western edge. These older forest areas comprise only about 12,000 of Jackson Forest’s 48,000 acres. What is to happen on the remaining acres? The Landscape Committee recommended to the JAG in the summer of 2009 that “Natural Forestry” be the basic management approach in all areas of the forest not specifically designated for different management, such as research and demonstration areas, special concern areas, reserves, and old-growth development areas (where timber harvesting will be more limited). Simply put, Natural Forestry aims to promote older forest characteristics and aesthetic values while maintaining timber production. A workshop was held at Jackson Forest in November 2008 that brought together about ten forest managers that use techniques that would form the basis of Natural Forestry – single-tree selection to promote larger trees, light entries that don’t greatly open the canopy, and attention to maintaining aesthetic values. These managers were unanimous in their opinion that their form of forestry could be practiced successfully on Jackson State. The recommendation to apply Natural Forestry to all stands not otherwise designated for other management has created an ongoing controversy in the JAG. Despite the Committee’s repeated insistence that it expects significant portions of the forest to be allocated to research and demonstration projects, a common perception is that accepting the Landscape Committee’s Natural Forestry proposal would lead to all of Jackson being turned into old growth. The Research Committee, which is charged with developing recommendations to support a world class research and demonstration program at Jackson State, has been particularly upset. Several of its members felt that the uniformity of Natural Forestry management would not provide the variety of stand conditions necessary for a first-class research program. The Landscape Committee responded that the “research and demonstration will always trump Natural Forestry”, and that allocations made for research and demonstration would lead to a variety of stand structures on the forest. To help gain advice on how research needs should be reflected in landscape allocation recommendations; the JAG convened a Science Workshop, with participants drawn from a variety of scientific specialties associated with forestry. The consensus of the workshop was that Jackson should develop a research program focused on a few “Centers of Excellence”, such as forest restoration while maintaining timber production, urgently restoring the salmon populations in forest streams, and quantitatively modeling the relationships between forest stand conditions and wildlife populations. With respect to the allocation issue, most participants felt that the management treatments given to different stands should be decided as part of the design of the research program. The JAG so far has been unable to reach agreement on the crucial landscape allocation issue. The conclusions of the scientists at the workshop seem to provide a sensible solution to the allocation issue: Initially, before the research program is developed, use Natural Forestry for all timber harvests. Then, as the research program is established and research projects defined for parts of the landscape, use the management methods specified in the research protocols on the stands involved. As I write, the JAG has scheduled a meeting (April 15) designed to end the stalemate. A small group is drawing upon the work of the Research and Landscape Committees and the Science Workshop to draw up a draft policy recommendation on landscape allocation. At the same time, all JAG members have been asked to list their “core needs” for Jackson Forest, needs that if not meant would prevent them from supporting the package of JAG recommendations. The goal and the hope for the upcoming meeting is that the JAG will agree on the allocation policy recommendation and identify any further key issues where further work is needed to reach consensus. If this goal is reached, it will clear the way for the JAG to move forward quickly. The June deadline for the JAG’s draft report will be a realistic possibility. I am keeping my fingers crossed. [May 4, 2010. The JAG will have a follow-up to the April meeting on May 10 in Ukiah. See story in adjacent column for more information on the May 10 JAG meeting. Materials distributed for the meeting are here.] A Possible Roadmap for Reaching Agreement on Future Management of Jackson Forest
The Landscape Committee has designated areas to be managed for restoration to older forest and old growth forest. Still, management objectives and methods have not yet have specified for more than half of the forest. The Landscape Committee has recommended that, in the absence of research and demonstration projects, the remainder of the forest be managed using natural or restoration forestry methods -- single-tree selection aimed at increasing the size and volume per acre of trees, while striving to maintain a natural, undisturbed feeling. Various concerns have been raised about this recommendation by JAG members. In particular, those concerned about research and demonstration want to be sure that the forest has sufficient diversity of conditions to support a broad research program. Others are concerned natural forestry might not generate sufficient revenue to fund forest operations, or that trees will be grown to a size that the public will not allow to be cut. Based on recommendations made by the Research Committee members, but not fully approved by the committee, a clear pathway toward moving forward seems at hand. I have created a "Landscape Reconciliation Roadmap" that lays out the areas of agreement, questions and issues, and ways to resolve the questions and issues. Those who want a detailed view of the status of JAG's efforts to reach agreement on Jackson Forest management, may wish to study the roadmap. Anyone can comment on the roadmap at the Jackson Forum.
Vince Taylor Restoration and Natural Forestry GatheringOctober 19, 2009. The October National Geographic features an article that details the year-long walk of Mike Fay through the entire redwood region. Based on his findings, Mr. Fay is urging widespread adoption of a form of restoration forestry practiced by a number of managers of small timberland holdings. This form of forestry was pioneered by Jim Grieg in the 1960s. Its basic elements are single-tree selection, relatively light harvests, growing trees to 30-40 inches before harvesting, and maintaining the forest in a natural, attractive state.On Saturday, October 24, the Advisory Group to Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) will be sponsoring a day-long gathering of well-known forest managers who practice the type of forestry favored by Mr. Fay and featured in his article. Weather permitting, the managers will visit four different types of forest stands in Jackson Forest and offer their opinions on how they would manage these stands.[Maps and Background Information for Tour] The gathering of mangers is an important step in the development of a long-term landscape management plan for Jackson Forest. The committee of the Jackson Advisory Group charged with landscape allocation has recommended to the full group that "Natural Forestry"should be the dominant form of management in Jackson Forest, outside of preserves, old-growth development areas, and research and demonstration sites.The concept behind Natural Forestry is simultaneously to maintain timber production and to foster the forest's development towards its natural age and structural state. This is an entirely new and exciting concept in forest management, offering the possibility of fulfilling the public's desires to see redwood forests moved toward their magnificent natural state while generating the revenues needed to operate Jackson Forest as a world-class research, demonstration, and recreation forest.The gathering of forest managers is intended to provide guidance on the range of their management techniques that could be incorporated in Natural Forestry. Because Natural Forestry is new and knowledge of the long-term dynamics of recovering redwood forests is limited, it will be essential to apply a variety of approaches, do rigorous monitoring and evaluation of the results, and apply the findings to adaptive management. As a public research and demonstration forest, Jackson State Forest is the perfect vehicle for conducting this grand experiment in restoring redwood forests.Everyone is invited to attend. If you have an interest in forest management and restoration, this is a rare opportunity. The tour will start at 9:00 a.m. at JDSF Headquarters, 802 N. Main St., Fort Bragg. Bring lunch and own transportation (or carpool with others) and dress for the weather.As I write this, the outlook is for reasonable weather. If it is rainy, the Restoration Forest Management Roundtable/Field Tour will be held indoors at the Redwood Coast Senior Center, 490 N. Harold Street, Fort Bragg. If weather is questionable, call Russ Henly at 916-214-4868 to confirm whether field tour or indoor meeting will be held.
Vince Taylor
|
|
|
Dunlap North, Jackson State Forest |
Many of the harvest plans were developed long before the present management plan took its final shape. Indeed, a number of these plans were initially developed in the 1990’s under the 1984 management plan that was declared invalid by the courts. The priorities and goals for forest management in the new plan differ greatly from those of the 1984 plan (which primarily addressed managing the forest for maximum timber yield, with no attention to endangered species and ecological diversity and little attention to recreation)...
|
| Hare Creek Effects of Illegal ORV Use |
[Read the remainder of this article and add your comments.]
August, 2008. In 2000, the Campaign to Restore Jackson
State Redwood Forest filed suit to halt logging in Jackson State Forest.
Over the next eight years, legal actions or the threat of legal actions
compelled the Department of Forestry (formerly abbreviated as CDF, now
Cal Fire) to refrain from any logging and to develop a new management
plan and accompanying environmental documents. Finally, in January of
2008, a new management plan for Jackson State Forest was approved, with
the support of the Campaign.
One issue remained unresolved - what was to happen with the two timber
harvest plans (THPs) filed in 2000, for Brandon Gulch and Camp 3. These
plans were subsequently halted by the legal actions of the Campaign. The
state contended that the THPs were still valid, although they were long
past the 5-year expiration limit in the statutes. With the approval of
the management plan, these plans could go forward...
More
Read my latest Jackson Wanderings column, published in the Fort Bragg Advocate and Mendocino Beacon at the new Jackson Forum
July 8, 2008. As the topics being considered by the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) expand, you will find it challenging to keep abreast of developments and to get your views heard by the JAG.
Help is here in the form of several new online capabilities.
Where We Are and Where We Came From
Branching Out, the newsletter of the Trees Foundation, recently published my article on the history and developments of the movement to reform management of Jackson State Forest, Where We Are Today and Where We Came From. Also an Adobe Acrobat Version
What Lies Ahead?
March13,
2008. Fifty-thousand acre Jackson Demonstration State Forest is a
major part of the landscape of the Mendocino County
coastal community. It also has been a focus of controversy and division
since 1995, when the Caspar Community protests against nearby logging
began an escalating effort to reform management of Jackson Forest.
As memories tend to be short, many may have forgotten that during the 1990s, the state was cutting upwards of 60,000 trees per year from our public forest. The major management goal was "to get out the cut." Timber harvests were concentrated in previously unentered 80 to 100 year-old stands, and also in local neighborhoods that adjoined the forest.
Public opposition culminated in the formation of the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest in 2000. The Campaign undertook a succession of lawsuits that effectively tied up all timber harvesting from 2001 until this year.
For the last two years, those at the center of the controversy have been working to find common ground. I am happy to report that these efforts have borne fruit. Am opportunity has been created to transform our local 50,000-acre Jackson Demonstration State Forest into a model of excellence, into a world-class demonstration forest that will bring pride to our community, the timber industry, the research community, and the forest managers.
In January, 2008, the Board of Forestry approved a new management plan that contained the essential features of a consensus reached among representatives of major county timber interests, the Campaign, and the Sierra Club. With this approval, the state can now legally resume logging in Jackson State. What does this mean for the forest and for you and me?
A new "Jackson Advisory Group," is currently being appointed. It will have a balance of people with environmental, conservation, timber, and science concerns. Its charge is to work during the next three years to develop a consensus on a long-term landscape, recreation, research, and management plan. The advisory group will likely invite local people with knowledge and interests to join subcommittees focused on different aspects of forest management. Monthly meetings open to the public are likely. It also seems likely that the staff of Jackson Forest will welcome formation of a "Friends of Jackson Forest" to allow volunteers to assist in restoration and recreation projects.
During the time the public is working with the advisory group to develop a consensus management plan, until 2011, all harvests in Jackson Forest will take place under strong protections "to assure that long-term planning options, particularly in sensitive areas, will not be precluded."
Protections include avoiding harvests in areas that have not been entered since 1920 or that have a significant density of large trees (with some possible initial exceptions), review of all harvest plans by the advisory group (which will provide a forum for public input), harvesting only by selection methods (no clearcuts), and retaining at least 70 percent of tree canopy (or the equivalent) and not reducing the average tree diameter in the harvested stands.
Thanks to reform legislation, revenues from harvests in Jackson Forest will only be able to be spent within the state forest system. During the first three years, harvest levels will be limited to those needed to finance operations of Jackson Forest. Harvest levels will be a fraction of those occurring during the late 1990's.
We are truly at the beginning of a revolution in management of our forest. Thanks are due to all of those in the community, the timber industry, the Board of Forestry, and most especially the Director of the Department of Forestry, Ruben Grijalva, and his staff, whose hard work and willingness to seek consensus made this possible.
Vince Taylor
For
more history, see below and
here.
The
Next Phase Begins
History and the Future
January 10, 2007. When the Board of Forestry approved the new management plan for Jackson State Forest on January 9, 2008, it was a milestone in the long struggle to reform management of Jackson Forest.
In thinking about where the reform effort goes from here, I found myself thinking about how we got to this point.
1995 marked the first public demonstration against the industrial logging practices that had characterized management of Jackson Forest since it started operations in the early 1950s. Demonstrations escalated in following years, with activists chaining themselves to gates in hopes of preventing logging in redwood stands that had grown back untouched for nearly 100 years. More
Earlier Editorials
The
Campaign's proposal for Jackson Forest
Jackson Forum is the place to go to find out what is happening in Jackson Forest -- and to have your own say. Check it out now!
Jackson Forum publishes in-depth reports on recreation and other meetings and analyses of important issues. Your comments can add to the discussion.
Real-time Online Email Archive
You can keep abreast of ongoing
discussions among JAG members at the public
JAG
Google Group.
This location has real-time archive of all emails among members of the JAG on topics of substance, together with attachments. Replies under the same heading are kept together making it easy to follow the discussion.
You can't post at the site, but you can email me any comments or thoughts, and I will email them to the JAG and post them to the group.
Cal Fire Website for Jackson Forest
The official website of Jackson Demonstration State Forest has links to official documents, timber harvest plans in Jackson, and meeting announcements related to Jackson Forest.
Jackson Forest Monthly Reports
January, 2009. Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) makes monthly status reports on activities to the Board of Forestry and the Jackson Advisory Group.
2009
|
See Our Slide
Show |
| You can find more historical information on Jackson State Forest at www.dharmacloud.com. |
Visitors since March 1, 2002:
Dharma Cloud Foundation
All contents of this site copyright © 2000-2011. All rights reserved.
Non-commercial reproduction of contents is hereby granted,
subject to attribution and reference to www.jacksonforest.com
May
12, 2009. The Jackson Advisory Committee is close to deciding on the
principles to use in developing a long-term management plan for Jackson
State Forest. 
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://f.cl.ly/items/2u3S2o2u3N3Q2f1p0V2B/bannerscript_right.js"></script>