JDSF’s 2016 Management Plan has many stated objectives (see our Research Links page, JDSF Management Plan, pages 18-22) but the primary is research and demonstration as to how different silvicultural methods stand up to science. This is intended for the benefit of timber producers both small and large, and for the university forestry programs upon which the industry depends. Many of Jackson’s goals, however, are not mutually reconcilable. Revenue-generating timber production is not compatible with the development of late seral (maturing and biologically diverse) forest. The demonstration of timber harvest methods conducted by subcontracted licensed timber operators conflicts with the imperative of carbon sequestration. The bottom line, in any case, is that the California Board of Forestry:

....describes Jackson and three of the other Demonstration State Forests as “commercial timberland areas managed by professional foresters who conduct programs in timber management, recreation, demonstration, and investigation in conformance with detailed management plans,” (Board Policy 0351.1) {Emphasis is mine}

We believe that treating publicly-owned forest as a commodity is not compatible either with the wishes of the majority of people who live near JDSF nor with the dire climate situation we as a species face in the 21st Century. The 2016 Management Plan is legally due for review in 2021 and revision in 2026. The Mendocino Trail Stewards are moving quickly to advocate for a major and substantial legislative change to JDSF’s management plan and, by extension, to the state forest system. We argue that all eight of California’s state forests should be re-designated as places where timber harvest is only conducted when necessary; one where climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration research are the primary mandates—not influenced by the imperative of revenue extraction.

This change would not only address the modern reality of managing forests to mitigate a substantially hotter and more fire-prone future, but also, by removing timber sales in Western Jackson as a mandated source of revenue, would defuse a central point of conflict. We are preparing a bill to place on the California Legislature’s 2022 docket, one which could continue Cal Fire’s management of Jackson, but with a different set of priorities: climate change mitigation; carbon sequestration; archeological and cultural respect and preservation; recreation; education; ecosystem restoration; public enjoyment; spiritual health; and forest resource management.

Jackson State Forest. Jackson is California's largest state forest totaling nearly 50,000 acres and contains one of the largest concentrations of second growth redwoods in California, which are now even more threatened than old growth Redwoods. They have no legal or environmental protections. Presently, only 2% of the second growth redwoods still stand compared to 5% of the original old growth trees (Burns et. al. 2018). Second growth forests provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered species and constitute the greatest carbon sequestration potential of any forest type on earth (Sillett et al 2020). In particular, these forests show great promise for natural restoration and rejuvenation through natural processes (Russell et al 2014).

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 Governor Newsom's Executive Order toward achieving 30x30 is a step in the right direction. 30x30 provides a unique opportunity for protecting currently threatened lands through scientifically backed political directives. Under the 30x30 vision laid out in the Global Deal for Nature (Dinnerstein et al 2018), lands are classified according to their GAP status code, which indicates their current protection status, with one/four representing the highest/lowest levels of protection. Jackson State Forest is listed as GAP3 lands, the second lowest protection level (Rosa, 2020). GAP3 lands are recognized as having, "particular potential to advance biodiversity and climate protections more quickly through administrative mechanisms'' (Rosa et al 2020).

That said, Jackson State Forest can be described as:

1. one of the most critically threatened ecosystems in the state;

2. possessing among the highest carbon sequestration potential in the state;

3. possessing among the lowest current protections in the state;

As such Jackson State Forest is among the "lowest hanging fruit" in California toward achieving 30x30, while at the same time protecting exceedingly rare habitat and enhancing the carbon sequestration capability of the state. Protecting Jackson in perpetuity as part of achieving 30x30 would be a tremendous leap forward toward environmental and climate protection, while still ensuring recreation and public enjoyment of our natural landscapes. This could be achieved through relatively straightforward legislative and/or executive orders as the land is completely within the hegemony of the state.

Citations: [1] Burns et al 2018 [Link] [2] Sillett et al 2020 [Link] [3] Russell et al 2014 [Link] [4] Dinnerstein et al 2018 [Link] [5] Rosa, 2020 [Link] [6] Rosa et al 2020 [Link]

 Timber Harvest—Before and After:

 Logging in U.S. forests emits 617 million tons of CO2 annually. Further, logging involves transportation of trucks and machinery across long distances between the forest and the mill. For every ton of carbon emitted from logging, an additional 17.2% (106 million tons of CO2) is emitted from fossil fuel consumption to support transportation, extraction, and processing of wood. In fact, annual CO2 emissions from logging in U.S. forests are comparable to yearly U.S. emissions from the residential and commercial sectors combined (EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory). The cumulative climate change impact of logging in the U.S. is even higher, since logging causes substantial reductions in carbon sequestration and storage potential in forests due to soil compaction and nutrient removal, and these combined impacts can often reduce forest carbon storage potential by 30% or more.

—From May, 2020 letter to Congress

Scenes from recent THPs off of Road 408

Siltation a mile downstream in Caspar Creek