Director CAL FIRE and Board of Forestry and Fire Protection

Re: JDSF Advisory Group

I wish to apply to serve on the Jackson Demonstration State Forest Advisory Group and have attached to this letter a copy of my resume and publications.

I am Professor Emeritus in Forestry at the University of California, Berkeley where my teaching and research responsibilities were in silviculture and tree physiology. Prior to early retirement in 1994 I served as Chair of UC's Department of Forestry and Resource Management. In 2005 I served as national President of the Society of American Foresters. I am currently a member of the Board of the California Forest Products Commission as well as a member of the national External Review Panel of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program.

I have had long association with the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) including using it for field instruction for my undergraduate students in silviculture, conducting a research and demonstration project on even- and uneven-aged silviculture in the Railroad Gulch area, and in serving on an advisory panel (1980) for the Director of CDF.

I recognize the importance of JDSF as an invaluable coast redwood ecological system, a critical resource for the people of Mendocino County and the State, and as the major research and demonstration forest for CAL FIRE. I also recognize the critical role of the Advisory Group in developing sound, acceptable policies and management programs in a climate of mutual trust among all clients and stakeholders. I am a strong believer of consensus building and believe I can contribute to building general support for an exciting future for JDSF.

Sincerely,
John A. Helms

 

John A. Helms
Professor Emeritus
Dept. ESPM -- Ecosystem Science
151 Hilgard Hall 3110
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-3110

e-mail: helms@nature.berkeley.edu