Headwaters Forest Update

In an effort to provide our readers with the real facts of the Headwaters Forest dispute in Califurnia, we are reproducing here a letter recently circulated by the main player in the struggle, The Pacific Lwnber Co.

- Editor

We have been made aware of some recent efforts to obstruct sales of redwood lumber. The organizations behind this effort are well organized and you yourself may have already been solicited by one of the involved groups. This action can only damage the livelihoods of those in the building industry-from those in manufacturing right on down through the chain of distribution. The sad part is that none of this is necessary, and the following information will make this clear. All of us are going to have to be involved if we are going to prevail on this issue. We ask that you do everything possible to help preserve your redwood business.

As you may know, a major effort is underway to save the Headwaters Forest. This 7,500-acre property includes approximately 3,000 acres of old growth redwoods and a 4,500-acre protective buffer zone. Our company owns the Headwaters Forest, and we are working with the State of Califomia and the federal govemment to help preserve this property.

We are contacting you directly because there has been a lot of misinfor- mation regarding this issue. Some of the information is so inaccurate that it may jeopardize the efforts to save these trees. The number "60,000 acres" is sometimes highlighted when discussing this topic. This 60,000 acre figure is politically driven and has no scientific basis whatsoever. In fact, the proposal follows our property lines almost entirely. Ninety percent of this acreage has long been managed commercial forest; some areas have been harvested, planted and regrown two and three times. We have worked diligently to resolve this emotional issue and we would like to provide you with some sound information on the subject.

On September 28,1996, an agreement was announced to preserve 7,500 acres of redwoods including the Headwaters Forest and the Elk Head Springs grove. The agreement was reached after negotiations with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Deputy Interior Secretary John Garamendi, California Resources Secretary Doug Wheeler, and officials of The Pacific Lumber Company. I was there and I have first-hand knowledge of what was discussed. Under the agreement, there will be absolutely no logging activity in the real Headwaters Forest and, in return, our company will be compensated in the form of cash and/or a federal asset swap. The settlement price was at a substantial discount from the federal appraised value: This is a "win-win" situation for all parties involved. It allows for preservation of the old growth trees and gives our company the ability to provide everyone with quality building materials.

You should know that The Pacific

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