FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2001 FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Thomas (530) 622-8718 David Edelson (510) 527-4116 John Buckley (209) 586-7440
Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Applauded Conservationists note the plan reduces wildfire risk while also protecting old growth forests SACRAMENTO - Environmental groups today applauded the U.S. Forest Service for adopting a precedent-setting plan that will protect the remaining old growth forests in the Sierra Nevada while also reducing the risks of wildfires near residential areas. It is the agency's first forest management plan to incorporate the Clinton Administration's policies on old growth forests and roadless areas. "The Sierra Nevada Framework represents a major step forward," said Craig Thomas, the conservation director for the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign. "This plan begins the process of protecting and restoring the Sierra Nevada's ecosystems, which have been degraded by decades of logging and road building sanctioned by the U.S. Forest Service," said Thomas. The plan, which aims to reverse declining populations of the California spotted owl and other imperiled species, has been under development for eight years. An earlier draft of the plan was withdrawn after a federal advisory committee identified "critical shortcomings," which included "inadequate protection for the spotted owl" and an unacceptable risk of extinction for the Pacific fisher. "With this decision and the recent roadless area policy, the Forest Service is finally steering in the right direction," said David Edelson, an attorney representing the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign and the Natural Resources Defense Council. "However, it is too soon to tell whether the plan will be sufficient to recover imperiled species like the California spotted owl, the Pacific fisher, or maintain yellow legged frog," said Edelson. The plan was adopted after a lengthy public process, with numerous hearings and opportunities for comment. Public comment overwhelmingly supported stronger protection for the Sierra Nevada's forests. "We call upon the incoming Bush Administration to maintain this new course, rather than returning to the destructive practices of the past," said Bob Schneider, the director of the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign. The plan covers approximately 11 million acres, of which 4.25 million acres - or about 40 percent of the national forest lands in the Sierra Nevada - would be managed as old forest reserves. Outside of the reserves, logging will generally be restricted to small trees (under 20 inches diameter), though larger trees (up to 30 inches diameter) could be removed in proximity to residential and developed areas where necessary to reduce the risk of spreading wildfires. "As an ex-firefighter, I strongly endorse the plan's strategic focus on reducing the small trees, brush, and ground fuels that contribute to wildfire risk in the Sierra Nevada, particularly near residential areas," said John Buckley, director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resources Center in Twain Harte, California. "With limited resources, it is essential that fire protection activities focus on safeguarding lives and property, not on futile attempts to fire-proofing forests. We will be watching closely to ensure that logging in the name of fire safety does not become an excuse for heavy cutting in ecologically sensitive areas," added Buckley. The Forest Service projects that the plan will allow removal of 187 million board feet of wood per year in the Sierra Nevada, which represents a reduction of approximately 40 percent compared to timber sale offerings in recent years. However, timber sales represent only a very small percentage of the Sierra Nevada economy. The framework instead focuses on managing and protecting the resources that truly provide the foundation for the Sierra's vibrant economy: tourism. Based in Sacramento, The Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign is a coalition of more than two dozen conservation groups, scientists, individual activists and spiritual leaders fighting for the protection of the public wildlands and watersheds of the Sierra Nevada. For more information about the Sierra Nevada Framework, contact the following people: Barbara Boyle - Sierra Club: (916) 557-1100 x105 Jay Watson - The Wilderness Society: (415) 518-2604 Steve Evans - Friends of the River: (916) 442-3155 x221 Paul Spitler - California Wilderness Coalition: (530) 758-0380