Background:

80% of California's water originates from our forested areas- making water the single most valuable commodity to come out of our forests. Forest protection is a key component for securing our water into the future. Unfortunately, decades of intensive logging on the north coast of California have resulted in nearly every major river being listed as impaired under the federal Clean Water Act due to logging.

Coho salmon, once a resource that supported California's commercial fishing industry and that native Americans relied on for centuries, have declined to just 1% of their historic numbers. Now one company, Sierra Pacific Industries, has announced plans to convert over one million acres of healthy forests in the Sierra Nevada to plantations- primarily by clearcutting. Through all of this, the State Board has failed to act.

The Problem:

Currently, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) is dominated by industrial timber interests. California's water quality and wildlife have suffered as a consequence. The Board is sorely in need of strong conflict of interest provisions as well as guidelines to ensure that members with scientific expertise are included to help guide this state's forest policy. Currently, the nine-member board is comprised of three representatives of the timber industry, one member who is a rangeland interest and five public members who have no required qualifications. Thus, with just one industry leaning public member, the timber interests dominate the board.

The Solution:

If enacted, SB 234 (Kuehl), would resolve this lack of balance by diversifying the Board's membership with insignificant fiscal effect. The bill would require the board's nine members include a professional forester, a person from the timber industry, an organized labor seat who has expertise in wildfire, a botanist, a wildlife or fisheries biologist, a sport or commercial fishing representative, a non-industrial timber or rangeland owner, a hydrologist, and a representative from the environmental community. The new composition of the Board would address the dire need for science-based analysis of forestry issues, as well as the need for representation of organized labor interests and non-industrial landowners.

Supporters:

• Defenders of Wildlife
• Sierra Club California
• California Native Plant Society
• Sierra Nevada Alliance
• CalTrout