The nine-member California Board of Forestry, by law, must have three members of the logging industry and one from the livestock grazing industry. The remaining five “public” members, may also be from the logging industry. In practice they usually include a member of the professional organization for Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs), and consultants who work for the industry and a banker who finances logging operations.
The result is a board that promulgates Timber Harvest Rules that service the logging industry, rather than the public interest.
Forest Unlimited has initiated a campaign to reform the Forest Practices Act. We urge the Legislature to alter the standards for Board of Forestry members. Each seat on the board should be designated for an expert in one of the following disciplines: Scientific forestry, geology, hydrology, ecology, fisheries, fire science, native American forestry practices, forest economics and tourism. None of these members should work or have worked for the logging industry. This would shift the focus from short-term industry profits to long-term public interest.
If you would like to help with this campaign, here is how:
Join the Reform the Board of Forestry working group. The group jointly manages the campaign and meets every two months via zoom and communicates weekly via email.
Circulate our petition and return the results to Forest Unlimitd. We will present them to our California senators and assembly members. Here is a link to the Petition: Reform the Board of Forestry Petition. Please let us know if you are circulating them.
Donate specifically to this Campaign. Just click the donate button on the home page and note “Board Campaign”