Study Examines California Forestry Rules

California has among the highest requirements in the world for private forestland management because of extensive regulation and independent programs that promote sustainable forest management, according to a new study by cal Poly state universitySan Luis Obispo.

But the study's authors, Christopher A. Dicus, assistant professor of natural resources management, and Kenneth Delfino, executive director of Cal Poly's Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute, caution that state regulations may not give local foresters the flexibility they need to manage forestland for long-term sustainability and the benefit of watershed protection and wildlife.

"California forestlands are some of the most legally protected privately owned forests in the world," said the authors. "Multiple layers of federal, state, county hnd local regulations ensure that timber will be managed in a sustainable manner." That regulation, however. can result in a micromanaging that may not be best for the forests and the environment, they said.

"Classical forest management is based on adapting a variety of options to each on-the-ground problem," they continued. Although some exceptions are provided, "the state regulatory process forces a one-size-fits-all approach that cannot accommodate all the variables of California's landscapes."

"Further, the ever increasing cost to forest landowners for complying with the Forest Practice Rules could drive some to utilize their land for purposes other than the growing and harvesting of timber," the authors said. "Conversion of lands to alternative activities such as subdivisions cause permanent environmental changes that are far more drastic than forestry activities."

The study, "A Comparison of California Forest Practice Rules and Two Forest Certification Systems," is the first in-depth look at standards met by owners of California forestlands. The study was funded by the California Forest Products Commission.

. The study's authors found the certification processes, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), require landowners to exceed state regulations.

"In addition to strict state regulations, some forest landowners voluntarily choose to seek third-party certification of their forestlands as a means to demonstrate that they are promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible forestry practices," the authors said. "Certification entails a rigorous and expensive evaluation of strict standards by a qualified independent auditor (or certifier) who has no vested interest in the forestland in question."

These certification initiatives involve environmental groups and are intended to specifically address concerns raised by those groups. But for forest landowners, who spend tens of thousands of dollars-and sometimes hundreds of thousands or more-to prepare for and gain certification, there is currently little or any economic benefit to doing so.

The authors recommend that an effort be launched to educate the public about the benefits of certification and how these landowners are producing wood in a responsible way.

"In order to offset the costs ofcertification and allow more participation, FSC and SFI, in collaboration with retailers, should work toward providing the as yet unrealized promise of a monetary premium for certified wood sold at market," the authors said.

Donn Zea, president of the California Forest Products Commission, Said consumers should know that California certified wood is grown consistent with the highest possible standards.

He said the commission funded the study to obtain a careful examination of forest landowners' efforts toward sustainable forest management.

"We have a moral responsibility to develop and implement forest management plans that promote long-term sustainability of this renewable resource," Zea said. "This study provides significant information about the implications of government regulation and what is being done today through regulation and voluntary certification programs. We hope this study adds to the dialogue and promotes even better forest manasement in the future."

Roseburg Opens EWP DCs

Roseburg Forest Products, Dillard, Or., has opened two additional engineered wood customer supply centers (CSC's) to support the growing demand for the products.

A new CSC in Colton. Ca.. serves Southern California and other Southwestern markets. The second new CSC, in Fairless Hills, Pa., serves Mid-Atlantic and New England areas.

Roseburg also operates CSC's at its EWP mill in Riddle, Or., servicing Northern California, Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain markets, and in Rockton. Il.. for the Midwest Great Lakes regions. "Having product staged in strategic locations throughout the country provides a unique service advantage to our customers," said Bob Berch, sales manager for Roseburg's EWP division.

The centers stock the complete line of Roseburg Framing System products, including RFPI Joist, Rigidlam LVL and RigidRim Rimboard.

Tree Sitters Argue Rights

Whether or not timber protesters illegally trespassed and resisted arrest may depend on whether the prosecu- tion can prove two defendants were really on Pacific Lumber Co. property when arrested.

Closing arguments in a case dating back to March l7 were made last month in Humboldt County Superior Court after three weeks of trial.

The case went to the jury June 26, and as of June 30 was still in deliberation.

The two defendants, Earth First activists Naomi Wagner and Amy Gershman, were arrested in March during in Freshwater, Ca. Wagner allegedly locked herself to a tree while Gershman was chained up high in a redwood.

Prosecutor Ed Borg emphasized an encroachment permit from the county that he said gave the Scotia, Ca.-based company the right to log near the road. That Palco was harvesting there indicated it owned the land, he said.

Defense attorney Ed Denson tried to take down Borg's position by claiming that no deed. survey or timber harvest plan was submitted into evidence to prove Palco owned the land. "This case is not about logging practices, or whether or not PL is a good corporate citizen," Borg said. "It's about property rights."

Denson said the prosecution hadn't shown that Palco owned the land or whether it was closed to the public, two requirements in proving a trespass case.

"This is really a case of the emperor having no clothes," Denson said. "In this case I'm suggesting that the emperor is PL. For years and years, if PL said something, it was so."