A bill to change how California’s demonstration state forests are managed — placing greater emphasis on research, public access and forest restoration rather than logging — was introduced in the State Assembly last week.
Assembly Bill 2494 was introduced by Assemblymember Chris Rogers, D-Santa Rosa and co-authored by state Senator Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg.
According to Cal Fire, California has 14 demonstration state forests totaling 85,000 acres. Unlike state parks, they are working forests. Cal Fire manages the lands that are used to test and show forestry practices, conduct research, and harvest timber while remaining open to the public for recreation.
Two of the state’s 14 demonstration forests are in Rogers’ district: Jackson Demonstration State Forest in Mendocino County and Ellen Pickett State Forest in Trinity County.
Rogers introduced the bill with the goal of modernizing policies that he says haven’t been updated in decades and are not aligned with the state’s current climate initiatives.
Under current law, known as the State Demonstration Act, timber production is a key part of how demonstration forests are funded and managed. AB 2494 would shift that emphasis by stating that research, recreation and forest restoration are the primary purposes of the forests.
The forests grow far more timber than they harvest, according to Cal Fire data, and on average produce tens of millions of board feet of wood each year. Timber sales could still occur, but only as part of restoration or research work.
The bill would also allow certain state forestry funds to be used to support maintenance and restoration projects in the forests and encourage greater tribal involvement in management.
Rogers said the measure would also help rural counties diversify their economies as traditional logging activity declines.
“Like many rural communities, Mendocino County is struggling,” said Mendocino County 5th District Supervisor Ted Williams, whose district includes much of Jackson Demonstration State Forest. “As we transition away from an economy that relies primarily on extractive industries, which no longer provide sustainable support for our residents, we must expand opportunities for revenue and job creation.”
According to Cal Fire, Jackson is the largest demonstration forest in the state at just over 48,000 acres. It was originally used for logging before the state purchased it in 1947.
The forest is lush with coast redwoods, many of which are harvested yearly and used for “demonstrations” of forest management techniques like forest thinning with fire. It’s also used for recreation, drawing visitors who use its 48 miles of trails for horseback riding, biking, hiking and mushroom hunting.
Williams believes that expanding recreation and restoration work in demonstration forests could bring more visitors and create new jobs for county residents tied to tourism and outdoor use.
“By directing the state to manage demonstration forests for public access…we can attract additional user groups such as mountain bikers, mushroom foragers, hikers, birdwatchers, and others to help steward our public lands and support resilient rural economies,” Williams said.
AB 2494 would also encourage greater coordination and co-management agreements with tribes. Supporters say that could expand opportunities for tribal governments to participate in decision-making and land stewardship on state forest lands.
Jackson Demonstration State Forest sits on the traditional homeland of Northern Pomo and Coast Yuki peoples.
According to Buffie Campbell, who is an enrolled member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, a descendent of Noyo Reservation and Yokayo Reservation, and Northern Pomo, tribal nations and Indigenous peoples have been “shut out” from co-managing the demonstration forests and sharing their own traditional forest management knowledge.
She calls AB 2494 a “major step” towards opening the door for partnerships and co-management opportunities between Cal Fire and tribes across the state.
“This is an impactful step towards educating the public regarding tribal sovereignty and historical trauma and its effects today,” she said. “As well as providing acknowledgement of those tribes and once known villages impacted by antiquated laws. Inviting and including Native voices through partnership and co-management is how we will make systemic changes in land management.”
AB 2494 will next be heard in Assembly policy committee before moving through the standard legislative process.
This story originally appeared in The Mendocino Voice.