Players in the Forestry Game

THE PUBLIC: that's us.

STATE and COUNTY:

LEGISLATURE: Makes the laws. Obviously legislators can help, in the long haul, by proposing or supporting improved laws. The public needs to compile and explain what is needed from them. And WE can help THEM in many ways, including the usual, for all politicians: explaining their positions to those who don't keep up with things political; writing thank you notes, letters to the editor, etc. ad infinitem. State legislators do not have direct control over THPs and such, but trust me on this, bureaucrats always pay attention to legislators' letters.

Major state laws include the Forest Practice Act, the Fish and Game Code, the Porter-Cologne Act (water), and many others, especially the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

STATE COURTS: modify and interpret laws via their decisions -- "case law."

BOARD OF FORESTRY (BOF): Adopts regulations (Forest Practice Rules) giving effect to forestry laws.

DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY (CDF): Carries out the regulations; enforces compliance.

COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS: Originally they had the power to adopt their own ordinances. Now, they have no such authority (exception: conversions on non-Timber Production Zone parcels under three acres -- Sonoma County DOES have such an ordinance). But a county can much: it may sit on the CDF Review Team, including 'voting' on decisions; attend pre-harvest inspections -- which the public cannot do, so this is VERY valuable; county departments can express concerns on issues affecting them -- roads, water supplies, fire safety, etc. THEY will be listened to more than ordinary mortals. And supervisors can exercise influence with various other decision-makers. County DISTRICTS, such as school, fire, and water, also will be listened to.

NOW FOR THE FEDS...

Same general pattern as for state -- Congress makes laws, administrative agencies adopt regulationss, courts modify, etc. Feds have NO DIRECT control over THPs, but the Feds DO have authority to tell owners what they CANNOT do, and what they MUST DO IF they want certain permits. The public's main useful contact here is with agencies using the Endangered Species Act, and also via the Clean Water Act, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulationss. Even with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Example: if an owner wants to be protected in case he incidentally harms an endangered species, he has to get a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) agreed to by the Feds -- National Marine Fisheries Service, NMFS), Fish and Wildlife (USFWS). Either of these agencies can tell state agencies or individuals what they have to DO to escape some legal action by those federal agencies, or to get an HCP. Example: marbled murrelet (endangered seabird) surveys if they want to log in possible murrelet habitat. The Feds' main clout is via higher-level pressure on state agencies to adopt regulationss or procedures. Exampe: the recent letter from NMFS to CDF.

AND THE FEDS ARE THE ONES WITH THE MONEY !! -- to support specific projects, or watershed assessment groups -- but the state also has some of THAT kind of money, especially through sympathetic State Senators.

Some 'PROPOSITIONS' for DECISION-MAKERS (a very brief list)...

FOR SUPERVISORS:

Push (if necessary) brethren on the Board of Supervisors to fund part-time forestry person in Permit and Resource Management Department. Encourage that Department to cooperate. Tell us how we can help, in that AND otherwise. Work on revisions to Sonoma County's under-three acre conversion ordinance.

FOR STATE LEGISLATORS:

Before introducing new legislation, meet with us to hear WHAT new laws, or amendments to old ones, we think would be most helpful.

Maintain at least a list, via e-mail and otherwise, of knowlegeable persons you can keep informed about forestry legislation, and to whom you can refer for advice on forestry legislation.

FOR ALL:

There are certain Forest Practice Rules which are particularly in need of revision. With a new state administration, there MAY be more willingness at BOF level to listen to the public. Actually, they DO DO so, but not in very large or visible ways. If groups of activists prepare well-thought out proposals, with documentation for the need, your support, even pro forma, would be helpful and welcomed.

Attend meetings of concerned citizens: the public feels so frustrated and POWERLESS, so your willingness to sacrifice to attend is much appreciated. And if there are events for the public, your attendance or help in spreading the word and other help is very useful. We will not ask you all to eat slugs, as poor Ernie Carpenter, late Supervisor, manfully did for years.

AND FOR THE DROOPING SHOULDERS OF THE PUBLIC:

SORRY, but the big burden will continue to be on our shoulders.

Please CONTINUE your efforts with CDF, etc. THANKS!!!