The burning of biomass is touted as a zero-carbon industry. Instead is just another scheme for increasing the demand for wood and increasing logging while increasing carbon and other types of pollution. So it is good news that NRDC has prevented the construction of a large pellet plant. Read the details here.
Climate and Forests
Roseland Neighbor Wood
Residents of Roseland in Southwest Santa Rosa have been fighting to protect a parcel on Roseland Creek from development for years. The parcel with a mature oak forest is now owned by Santa Rosa and is designated to be developed as a city park. The city has for several years tried to add parking, soccer fields, a dog park and a paved trail. The neighbors want development limited to restrooms and a bicycle trail on the south side of the park. The bike trail would connect to the existing pathway along the lower reach of Roseland Creek. The Friends of Roseland Creek want a natural park with an intact riparian zone and a natural oak woodland. But Santa Rosa persists and the locals resist. If you would like to help defend the Roseland Neighbor Wood, contact Duane De Witt.
PG&E Watch
PG&E power lines are a major source of ignition for catastrophic wildfires. Forest Unlimited has advocated for undergrounding of power lines in forested areas rather than the wholesale cutting of trees to protect lines. Alternately power lines should be insulated although this will not prevent all ignitions. See more information here.
The State Legislature is considering the “Investor-owned Utilities Accountability Act, SB 332. Please contact your Senator and encourage passage of this act. You can find your Senator here. You can find the full bill, the bill analysis and its present status here.
Cal Fire Undercuts Climate Efforts
Two climate sientists, Evan Mills and John O’Brien, have described Cal Fire’s mismanagement of Jackson State Demonstration Forest in this article from the Press Democrat:
What the article doesn’t say is that Cal Fire is dominated by the corporate timber industry just like the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Watch their video