THIS WEEK: Public Meetings on Sierra, Sequoia National Forest Plans

BAKERSFIELD, CA: The Forest Service this week will be holding two public meetings on new management plans for the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests. The forest management plans govern how the forests will be used and protected-- setting priorities for wilderness areas, rivers and streams, fire management, recreation, wildlife protection, and more. 

The Forest Service will be accepting public comment on the Sequoia National Forest plan Aug. 20, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Station by Kern County Fire Fighters (7900 Downing Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93308).  A second meeting will be held in Clovis, at the Clovis Veteran’s Memorial District (808 4th St, Clovis, CA 93612) on August 21 to hear comment on the Sierra National Forest plan from 5:30-8:30 p.m.  The meetings are part of a 90-day public comment period on the proposed forest management plans. 

“The Forest Service has included among its alternatives positive steps to protect more wilderness, restore more forest areas through the smart use of fire, and take additional steps to restore meadows and stream areas. Yet the agency wants to move forward with a less-protective plan instead,” said Jamie Ervin, Fire Restoration Advocate for Sierra Forest Legacy. 

Given the current threats from sprawl, development and pressures from climate change, the current draft Sierra and Sequoia plans fall short of what is needed to fully safeguard the health of the forests and the economies they support. 

“While we appreciate some of the improvements made in the revised draft forest plans, we urge the Forest Service to adopt more robust protections for high quality habitat for old growth forest dwellers like California spotted owl, fisher and Northern goshawk. These plans must ensure activities like logging and grazing don’t negatively impact imperiled species that call these forests home,” stated Pamela Flick, senior California representative for Defenders of Wildlife.

“This plan needs to do more to protect Wild and Scenic rivers in the Sierra National Forest. The waterways are vital for wildlife and recreation, and they must be protected in their entirety, not in disconnected segments,” said Chris Morrill, Executive Director for CalWild. 

The draft plan also fails to protect worthy wilderness and roadless areas or to take steps to effectively reduce conflict between recreation uses. 

The Sierra and Sequoia National Forests are home to over 2.1 million acres of natural wonders like giant sequoia groves, unique and vulnerable wildlife like bighorn sheep and the California spotted owl, miles of wild and scenic rivers, and host over a million visitors a year. 

“The Forest Service rightly recognizes the importance of forest recreation,” said Roberto Morales, chair of the Nature for All coalition. “To make that experience welcoming for everyone we need to see better interpretation and education so that all visitors can enjoy the forests responsibly.”

“From habitat for fish and wildlife to clean air and water to outdoor recreation and the health of local economies -- this is our moment to ensure the best possible future for these special forests. It’s also becoming increasingly clear that these forests are key to fighting the climate crisis. The Forest Service should adopt more protective plans, ” said Jenny Binstock, Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra Club. 

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