The National Geographic’s latest special edition on Saving Forests has a “Solutions” article entitled, “A New Plan in Germany: Leave Forests Alone and Allow Nature to Heal Itself,” by Andrew Curry. This is the model that the Mendocino Trail Stewards advocates for a new management plan for Jackson Demonstration State Forest. With the State recently granting many millions of new dollars for a revised plan for forest management in the Jackson, it is time to use some of those funds to activate this vision. Specifically, neighborhoods within close proximity to THPs should have fire fuel loads greatly reduced—small diameter trees and choked understory; Tribal Co-management should be instituted forthright; recreational use, not timber extraction, should become the primary activity in the forest; and current timber sales (such as the Caspar 500, Soda Gulch and Chamberlain Confluence) should be purchased back from the mills that bought them with these State funds. These are the priorities of the citizens who use and live near the Jackson. Management goals can include what German forest owners are calling this hands-off approach: “close-to-nature” forestry. It is time the Jackson Advisory Group applies this concept to our JDSF public lands. Climate instability, carbon sequestration, and the long-term health of the trees and watersheds of this wonderful tract of land will then be a model in perpetuity of how JDSF is truly a Demonstration Forest.
William Lemos, Ph.D.
Hare Creek, JDSF Photo by Genevieve Mullins
CALFIRE's Proposed Changes: Too Little, Too Late
Too little, too late. This was the consensus at the most recent board meeting of the Mendocino Trail Stewards regarding Cal Fire’s proposed changes to the Caspar 500 Timber Harvest Plan (THP). The alternative plan was unveiled at the latest Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) meeting on May 2nd. The scaled back version would change 75 acres of the plan from commercial timber harvest to “non-commercial fuel reduction treatment - cutting of less than 11-inch diameter trees and vegetation.” The popular “Parallel” and “Jackaroo” trails are located within this 75-acre area, as are the two giant second-growth redwoods that activists have defended since last spring, known as the Mama and Papa Trees. Another old favorite of activists, a tree they call Gemini, would be spared by shortening the logging road that would have taken it out. An additional facet of the revised plan would involve identifying and retaining a number of “Potential Elder Trees” (P.E.T.’s) on the landscape “for ecological and carbon sequestration/storage purpose.” Click here to read Cal Fire’s description of the proposed changes.
The Mendocino Trail Stewards appreciate Cal Fire’s willingness to compromise. We feel the proposed changes are a good start, but we cannot support them, for the following reasons:
The Save Our Pomo Homeland campaign is redefining forest and climate activism in California - KPFA - Terra Verde Radio
On Friday, March 25th at the Capitol Building steps in Sacramento, Tribal members from across Northern California gathered with environmental activists and community members to support efforts by the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians to halt logging in Jackson Demonstration State Forest. Guest speakers shared powerful speeches, Indigenous performers danced while others chanted to protest the logging of redwoods in the Jackson Demonstration State Forest.
It was the most significant event yet held by the Coalition to Save Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF), and was organized in a joint effort by Chairman Hunter, local youth activist Sara Rose- cofounder of the Mendocino County Youth For Climate, and the Coalition to Save Jackson. The group sees their goals as inextricably connected and are encouraging the state-wide community to look at Jackson as an example of how supporting indigenous sovereignty and achieving climate progress can be complementary strategies.
Mendocino County Youth for Climate goes to EarthX-
sponsored by the Mendocino Trail Stewards
This year the Mendocino County Youth for Climate, a partner in the Coalition to Save Jackson, sponsored by the Trail Stewards and a program of Overstand, celebrated Earth Day with a trip to EarthX in Dallas TX. EarthX is the world's largest environmental expo and conference and seeks to help find solutions to environmental problems. Sara Rose and Ravel Gauthier Co-Founders of the Mendocino County Youth for Climate, made it to Dallas for EarthX2022. Thank you to the financial support from countless other activists that made this important trip possible.
Their attendance was wildly productive. They met with other climate activists from around the world, spreading the word about the JDSF movement and gaining many allies working on the ground and in the UN system. They also met with UN ambassadors, prime ministers, and congresspeople, all dedicated to getting youth involved in climate negotiations at the highest level.
Join us at the 2nd Sacred Pomo Homelands
Caspar Forest Fest on June 11th
We hope you will come out and join us in support of the Coalition to Save Jackson and the Mendocino Trail Stewards at the Second Annual Sacred Pomo Homelands Forest Fest on Saturday, June 11th at the Caspar Community Center from noon until 7pm.
Music will include Mama Grows Funk, Gene Parsons w/ 2nd hand Grass, Diane Patterson, Darryl Cherney, Holly Tannen, and more.
Speakers will include Priscilla Hunter of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Sara Constance Rose and Ravel Gauthier of Mendocino County Youth for Climate.
Admission is $5-$20, all are welcome, no one will be turned away. Find more information at savejackson.org.
There will be ecology workshops in English and Espanol, kids activities, information booths, beer, wine and food by Dalen and Her Crew.
We will be offering booth spaces for ecologically-minded non-profit groups at no charge. If you would like to reserve a booth space, please contact Jima Abbott at jima@mcn.org
Got forest fest photos from last year? We'd love to see 'em! We are putting out publicity for this year’s Fest and wonder if any of you might have some good photos from last year’s festivities. Please DM us any photos that you would be ok with us using to promote the second annual Sacred pomo Homelands Forest Fest. You may also send them to Genevieve Mullins at <development@mendocinotrailstewards.org>
See you from the dance floor on June 11th at the Caspar Community Center!
Friends of the South Fork Gualala River Request Comments on Bootleg 2 THP
Dear amazing people,
It has been almost exactly one year since the Bootleg THP was approved. And what a year it has been!
Thanks to your public comments, we were able to file a CEQA lawsuit in May 2021 and have completely blocked Bootleg for now!! In January, Judge Wick ruled 100% in favor of a preliminary injunction against logging and no trees have fallen!
Our case revolves around CDF's failure to respond to all of our public comments. Those comments were critical to the success of this lawsuit, and it is thanks to all of you that Falk Forestry has been blocked from logging any of those 285 acres for the time being!
The only trouble with blocking a $5.5 million logging plan is that they inevitably submit another. And, as predicted, Falk Forestry has submitted a new plan for "Bootleg Two". Bootleg Two borders the original (now stalled) Bootleg plan, however it is larger at 289 acres and sits closer to a marbled-murrelet protected area. It is also worth more $$$.
Friends - I am writing you in hopes you can please send another comment - this time regarding Bootleg Two. Your comments are truly invaluable!
On Saturday, April 9th the Trail Stewards recently enjoyed a fun and educational workday with State Parks during our Invasive Plant Workday on Dry Dock Trail. The Dry Dock Trail is located in the Big River Unit of Mendocino Headlands State Park. State Parks inherited the Big River Unit from Hawthorne Timber Company, spearheaded through a fundraising effort by the Mendocino Land Trust in 2002 (Various bonds and grants went into purchasing the property). Dry Dock Trail is a former logging road that was rehabilitated into a trail. It is one of several that connect the popular Big River Trail to the vast network of trails within Jackson Demonstration State Forest and the Mendocino Woodlands State Park to the north.
Terra Fuller, Senior Environmental Specialist with State Parks, is working to decommission the old logging roads within the Big River Unit, with the goal of restoring the watershed. Road decommissioning requires large earth moving equipment to remove fill material from road crossings that block natural stream channels. After the work is done, invasive plants often move in.
Join Bee Bold Alliance and Pomo Landback on June 5th in Mendocino for a series of cinema shorts for Native perspectives and visionary discussion afterward with the filmmakers and local Tribal Leaders.
Q&A with Director Daniel Golding, Tribal Chairman Michael Hunter, Tribal Chairwoman Priscilla Hunter, filmmaker Linda Mai Green, Director Evan-Marie Petit, first-time filmmaker Nataniel Golding and introducing Henry Thomas leading the Bee RYL Productions pilot project, youth working to sustain local art and culture through film. We are looking forward to this event. Join us!
Cal Fire Requests Early Review of Jackson Forest Management Plan
The Management Plan for the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) wasn’t due until 2026, but now the California Natural Resources Agency and Cal Fire have called for an immediate review of the plan. Cal Fire’s statement reads: “CAL FIRE believes JDSF management needs to be modernized. Moving forward, JDSF needs to serve as a model of forest and tribal co-management that restores, enhances and protects this critical resource.” The plan will be reviewed by The Board of Forestry and the Jackson Advisory Group.
We are cautiously optimistic, as the Jackson Advisory Group is just that; merely a volunteer advisory body that gives advice to the Board of Forestry; and the Board of Forestry is, as the name implies, dominated by foresters who are friendly to the timber industry. Still, this is a step forward. The Mendocino Trail Stewards have been demanding an update to the Management Plan for two years. Without your emails, phone calls and petition signatures, this could not have happened. Click here to read Cal Fire’s statement about the early plan review.
Click here to read the Environmental Protection Information Center's May 17th update of the recent developments within JDSF.
Golden hour in the pygmy forest, Jackson State Forest, May 7, 2022 Photo by Genevieve Mullins
Music will include Mama Grows Funk, Gene Parsons w/ 2nd hand Grass, Diane Patterson, Darryl Cherney, Holly Tannen, and more.
Speakers will include Priscilla Hunter of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Sara Constance Rose and Ravel Gauthier of Mendocino County Youth for Climate.
