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.

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