Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 last week to join the Sustainable Forest Action Coalition, with Supervisors Brian Oneto and Ted Novelli to represent the board and the county.
Recent past Chair Oneto said he brought the issue to the board to ask if it wanted to join, saying it was “a group advocating better use of the forest.”
Supervisor Richard Forster said if they joined and had Oneto or someone else represent the county, they “need to be careful about language they use,” such as using the term “thinning” for management of “forest health to avoid catastrophic wildfires,” instead of “cutting down a bunch of trees.” Oneto said if they don’t reduce fuels, they “will see catastrophic burns, like we have seen time and again.”
Forster said they would get a lot more “buy in” if they frame language a certain way, and he noted a webinar on which Jim Branham wanted and had some “well-connected” environmental groups. Forster said: “I don’t want to be part of a group that is going to inflame the situation.”
Oneto said “it’s a bigger voice,” and he thought it noteworthy that he was supporting joining a group with the word “sustainable” in its title, a word he fought against in past board discussions. He said the coalition has a goal in making prospective members of Senators Boxer and Feinstein.
Plasse asked county consultant John Hofmann to comment on the county’s proposed membership to the coalition. Hofmann said if it was the business side trying to team with legislators, to “see what they can do to manage forests and help rural areas,” then it was a good coalition and worth a look.
Hofmann said if it was trying to “rebuild infrastructure,” to “build another sawmill that cuts 30- or 40- or 50-inch trees,” it was probably not a good coalition to join.
California Forestry Association lobbyist Steve Brink said “we are a member,” and SFAC was formed after the Wally Herger and Tom McClintock wildfire forums, which started with the wildfires of 2008.
Brink said the quarterly SFAC meetings have a lot to do with “active management on forests that are not reserved,” and they are “trying to get Feinstein engaged as well, since she holds the purse stings.” Forster asked about the cost, and Brink said it had no cost and was an all-volunteer organization.
One man in public comment said the best “way to see how a coalition speaks is to be a member of the coalition.” Forster asked for reports from the meetings, and wanted to see some information the coalition sends out.
The coalition next meets Feb. 23 in Sacramento.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
