Ft. Bragg Advocate-News
Chesbro's SB1648
discussion continued
Thursday, July 15, 2004
- By NAOMI JARVIE Of the Advocate
In an unexpected move Tuesday, the county
supervisors pulled the controversial consent calendar item, A letter of
opposition to Sen. Wes Chesbros SB1648, regarding the future of Jackson
Demonstration State Forest due to concerns associated with the economic
impacts to the county by the proposed bill, and continued it for
discussion on July 27. The item drew a good-sized crowd, according to
Kristi Fermen, board secretary.
SB1648 is a statewide bill. It would change the
first section of the state Public Resources Code to read, ... forests
owned and managed by the state are important public resources suitable for
a variety of purposes, including demonstrations and scientifically
designed studies regarding forest resource management; maintenance and
restoration of forest land resources; education; recreation; and public
enjoyment. The bill also makes findings specific to management of JDSF
creating two new advisory committees, and forbids harvesting in stands of
old growth.
The bill eliminates the current mandate for maximum
timber production and replaces it with multiple values of conservation,
restoration, education, and forest management demonstration and research.
County supporters of SB1648 say with better planning
and a broader mandate, JDSF can provide increased opportunities for
scientific research while also protecting environmental values and making
a contribution to the regional economy.
Due to lawsuits won by the Campaign to Restore
Jackson State Redwood Forest in which the court found a new management
plan necessary, and that the environmental documentation in the new
management plan was legally inadequate, logging cannot continue before
2005.
[Remainder of the article on other actions at the
Supervisors meeting is omitted. See
full article.]
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