Subject: Tree Tips--Jackson
State--7/24/03
Printed in the Mendocino County Observer.
Jackson State Forest-Some Background
There has been a lot of controversy over Jackson State Demonstration Forest,
and folks have been asking questions about it. Since I haven't been very
involved with the controversy surrounding harvests there, I'm reluctant to
write about this political hot potato. But here are some things I do know.
First, the 50,000-acre forest was set up by the state in 1947 for
demonstration. In the past, demonstration has concentrated on research projects
and various timber management practices. More recently there has been a strong
push by the public to put more emphasis on recreational and educational
opportunities.
Second, the state is trying to do some logging in Jackson State and has been
facing a lot of public opposition that has shut logging down. A lot of
the proposed logging is selection (thinning), and it's my understanding that
clearcuts are proposed as well. Whether or not you agree with the need to
harvest for conducting research, reducing fuels, etc., what's important to
understand is that not all logging is the same. A thinning harvest in which
individual trees are taken out, leaving a forest standing after harvest, is
fundamentally different than a clearcut. They shouldn't be painted with the
same brush. Another important point is that overall, the growth in Jackson
State is more than the proposed harvest. The total amount of wood in the
standing trees of the forest will continue to increase, just like it has for
years.
Third, Jackson State has some incredibly productive and resilient forest land.
I'm reminded of that every time I visit forests elsewhere, most of which grow
much more slowly because of climate and/or soil conditions. The fact that there
is a lot of controversy over second-growth trees is testament to the resiliency
of the forest.
Fourth, harvesting redwood trees produces income. Traditionally, funds from
harvests at Jackson State have been largely used to pay small forest landowners
for non-commercial projects that improve the forest under a great program
called CFIP. Landowners could get financial help for thinning young
non-commercial trees, fixing roads, and a number of other projects that are
good for the forest but that seldom get done when a landowner has to pay all
the expenses out of pocket. When logging on Jackson State stopped, so did the
flow of money to get these projects done.
We are certainly blessed with a jewel of a forest in Jackson State. It is
important to manage it, and to manage it well.
Clare Nunamaker is a Registered Professional Forester and member of NorCal
SAF, CLFA, and the Forest Stewards Guild.
forestry@nunamaker.com
707-485-8788