Jackson Demonstration State Forest’s mission is of value to the area

The Jackson Demonstration State Forest is a 50,000acre state forest between Fort Bragg and Willits — we are blessed to have this unique working forest in our county.

The challenge in all our forests today is how to manage these forests to accommodate numerous interests. Managing fire risk is currently the most important, and the most challenging. Our historically high fuel loads, concern for air pollutants, the proximity of human development and the potential for a catastrophic fire make the traditional use of low-intensity periodic fire as a fire control tool limited in most of our landscape environments.

JDSF, including the areas mentioned by Mr. Swimmer (See: Community Column, A4, Jan. 28, 2021) where selective harvesting is practiced, is no exception. Research and demonstration, including fire risk management, that is done on JDSF is one of many critical things that happen there. JDSF has been engaged on the subject of fire risk, and staff are struggling to find ways to address this ever-increasing challenge. It is not a challenge that will correct itself, or has any one-time single fix. Mr. Swimmer also mentioned timber harvesting impacts on fish and wildlife, and carbon sequestration. JDSF has people who can speak with knowledge on these subjects as well.

The welcomed accommodation of people using the forest for recreation is another vital and worthy challenge. There are more varied opportunities for recreation on JDSF, including the use of trails, than anywhere else in Mendocino County, maybe Northern California. The logging is done carefully and sustainably, in a way to attempt to accommodate everyone. Often trails for horse riding, biking, and hiking are on logging skid trails and haul roads.

The JDSF mission is a difficult one, but in my view very possible, particularly if all forest users work together. Aesthetics, particularly where there is high recreational use, is an ongoing and important challenge. This model, and demonstration of forest management is our future.

Timber harvesting provides distinctive opportunities to manage fire risk that all landowners and land managers can learn from. There is a need for experienced staffing, road maintenance, policing, outreach, etc. Timber sale income pays for that, and is the sole source of revenue to cover ongoing management expenses. We should be grateful for that.

I am a member of the California Board Of Forestry appointed Jackson Advisory Group. JAG is advisory only. We are a diverse group that represents small forest landowners, industrial forest landowners, loggers, foresters, fish and wildlife interests, academics, recreational interests, and environmentalists. Our primary mission is to advise on the consistency of proposed harvesting with the JDSF management plan, and on other issues when we are asked to.

The management plan accommodates a diverse group of interests represented by the people appointed to the JAG. We operate under the Brown Act and generally make recommendations based on the consensus of the group. The public is notified of our meetings, is welcome to attend, go out in the field, provide input and participate in discussions.

The interested public’s input on how to make management better is always welcomed. This is a unique approach to managing a public forest. We should be grateful and proud.

We have a long way to go in improving forest management, and JDSF is a critical part of that important journey. What JDSF is doing is new, and better methods of forest management are continually being tried and evaluated. Our future in forestry is necessarily one that meets the interests of wood fiber consumers, local economies, recreation, fire risk and the environment.

By working together, we can do this, and make our forests a better place for everyone.