Why It Matters: Legislation restricting forest management on State Demonstration Forests undermines the State Demonstration Forest System’s primary purpose, which is to educate the public about the benefits of multiple-use land management, including active forest management. They are called “State Demonstration Forests,” not “State Observation Forests,” for a reason. Dispelling misconceptions about forest management through education is essential for maintaining public support for active management that reduces wildfire risk, improves wildlife habitat, and enhances access for sportsmen and women.
Highlights:
- In March, legislation that would change the purpose and funding structure of State Demonstration Forests advanced in the California Legislature.
- The “State Forests: Forest Management” bill (Assembly Bill 2494) would restrict timber management to ostensibly promote biodiversity and carbon mitigation goals.
- On April 10, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter urging the State Assembly Appropriations Committee to table the legislation.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection manages 14 Demonstration State Forests, comprising roughly 85,000, as living laboratories to research and demonstrate sustainable forest management practices to the public. The forests balance natural resource management for forest health, wildfire resilience, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection with fishing, hunting, hiking, and other opportunities for the public. Disagreement over the management of Demonstration State Forests has been ongoing for years with anti-forestry interests challenging forest management projects. An advisory group for the largest Demonstration State Forest was formed to review timber harvest plans, but opposition to forest management work persisted. Anti-forestry groups now turn to the California State Legislature to change the mission of Demonstration State Forests to restrict active management.
Assembly Bill 2494 was introduced in February, and the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources passed an amended version of the bill in March. The legislation is now pending action in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. While, on its face, the intent of Assembly Bill 2494 is to prioritize ecological management over commercial timber management on Demonstration State Forests, CSF is concerned that the bill would undermine the purpose of Demonstration State Forests, restricting sustainable forest management on state lands that are specifically set aside for natural resources research and public education about forest management.
CSF’s letter stated, “We are strongly opposed to changing the management objectives of the State Demonstration Forest System and its funding structure. We are concerned that Assembly Bill 2494 would transition Demonstration State Forests to practices more appropriate for State Parks and limit research and demonstration opportunities for the public to learn about the importance of active forest management to forest health, wildfire risk mitigation, fish and wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation access.”
The letter also argued that changing the funding structure would jeopardize the long-term fiscal stability of State Demonstration Forests. It further noted that the legislation is misguided because it reduces investment in research on hazardous fuels treatments and other wildfire risk reduction work that informs land management when the state is confronting significant forest health and severe wildfire risk issues.
CSF is hopeful that the State Assembly Appropriations Committee will consider the negative fiscal impacts of the legislation as well as the importance of educating the public about the benefits of sustainable forest management and not pass the bill out of committee.