Countywide : Campaign to Limit Redwood Cut Begins

Ventura County environmental leaders kicked off a campaign Thursday to win voter approval for Proposition 130, a forest and wildlife protection measure on the November ballot.

Environmentalists who back the proposal say it seeks to stop timber companies from cutting down the last 5% of California’s ancient redwood trees.

“We want to make a strong statement that the environment will be controlled by the people,” said Russ Baggerly, a spokesman for the Ventura County Environmental Coalition.

“We’re seeking to protect the diversity and richness of our California resource bank and preserve that richness for generations to come.”

Proposition 130 would change logging regulations in California and allow the sale of $710 million in bonds to buy ancient forests in Northern California that are about to be cut, said Paul Herzog, a member of the Tri-Valley Environmental Committee.

“We’re looking at a way to permanently preserve the trees that need to be preserved . . . for a healthy economy today and tomorrow,” Herzog said. “We’re basically biting the hand that feeds us now because a healthy economy depends on a healthy environment.”