Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.
Dear Editor,
As a working mom raising two young girls and taking care of my elderly mother-in-law on the rural Mendocino coast, I am outraged by the AMEX Timber Harvest Plan (THP 1-25-00044-MEN) that would clear-cut redwoods in a patchwork across nearly 500 acres in Jackson “Demonstration” State Forest. I was part of the community-based Pomo LandBack and People’s Forest movements in 2020-2021, and I am furious that Cal Fire has gone back on its previous commitment to us, to pause logging and new Timber Harvest Plans until there is a modernized Forest Management Plan that reflects Tribal co-governance principles, current ecological science and adaptation to the climate crisis.
The AMEX Timber Harvest Plan for “group selection harvest” near the Camp 20 parking lot and Chamberlain Creek in Jackson State Forest has no clear information about the size or type of trees that will be logged — and no criteria for protecting mature redwood trees. And the biological review and evaluation of cumulative environmental impacts of ongoing and past logging operations are inadequate.
Proceeding now undermines public trust. Cal Fire must stop logging the oldest, tallest, and most carbon-sequestering trees on the planet, our Northern California redwoods.
Rachele Hayward
Gualala
Cal-Fire is a bought & paid for “good old boys” network
they need to all drgged out into the street & shot dead NOW
Hmm
Do Some Logging ! It’s all been logged before . Sensible Logging for sure . We live here remember.
We have politicians and special interests that want to basically take everything now
I think hardline no logging isn’t going to work at all in 2025 .
Mendocino county outta stick together
Figure it out and compromise on everything
Otherwise we fight amongst our selves
Which is what the Greedy want
CalFire has in the past logged areas which took a very very long time to recover. They usually subcontract to commercial logging companies. Contact our legislators.
It would seem that many misinterpret “demonstration forest” to mean “park”.
what in the world are we demonstrating? Same “forestry science” as in 1947 when JDSF was created? Anyone reasonable would agree that it’s time to let the redwoods and tan oak trees recover — and hold carbon dioxide while the climate apocalypse is upon us — in public forest people can enjoy and be comanaged with Pomo people who’s stolen land it is. I agree wholeheartedly that Mendocino County residents need to stick together rather than be divided by the greedy and wealthy.
I never have known really what “demonstration forest” means, maybe it’s to demonstrate how to log? But anyway they do actually log more carefully now, away from rivers, and in a patchwork so as to reduce effects on habitats and soil erosion. If they wanted to take out majestic, ancient redwoods that’s another matter but harvesting a nice-sized redwood that is not ancient, in a somewhat careful manner that is fine to do… In my opinion.
Good for you! speak up before it’s all gone! people please do not roll over do your research ! Do not let Cal fire or who ever they really are destroy your forests! best of luck. Check out Shasta Co if you want destruction.
Rachele Hayward I can only think that your idea of “reasonable person” is only those that agree with your viewpoint and that in itself is “unreasonable”.