Reform Seems Near--Knock on Wood : Vital compromise on forest protection bill is nearing the governor’s desk

Rhetoric about the dire consequences of forestry reform is about as thick as the forests once were along California’s coast. Those who oppose reforming the state’s wasteful forestry practices, including some but not all of the state’s major timber producers, have long cast the debate as an increasingly false choice between jobs and the environment. But as they howled louder about job loss--over the ceaseless din of chain saws--the trees got thinner and the number of jobs began to dwindle.

So much so that soon after Gov. Pete Wilson unwisely vetoed a solid reform compromise last fall, his own Department of Forestry disclosed that environmentalists had hardly exaggerated the destructive effect of existing forestry law and practices. Trees in all private forests, including the state’s ancient redwoods, were simply disappearing under an excessive harvesting schedule. The state’s timber industry has been cutting four trees for every three it grows to take their place. That alarming news was followed by the disclosure of two internal timber company memos indicating that the industry, in its haste to cut while the market was good, was not following “basic business principles.” These developments kept the impetus for reform alive.

Shortly after he vetoed last year’s bill, Wilson asked all the involved parties to sit down and try again. The result is the so-called Grand Accord, AB 641, currently before the Legislature for final approval.

The legislation is far from perfect, and is significantly weaker in places than last year’s version. But the Grand Accord will nonetheless restrict clear-cutting on private forest lands, require all timber owners to maintain a sustainable yield on their land--and protect forest watershed, wildlife and irreplaceable ancient forests.

Now with Wilson’s promise of support, AB 641 can begin to reform an industry that has tended to trade short-term profits for the long-term security of the logging towns, employees and especially the forests upon which that profit depends. Let’s not squander another year--and more trees--without forest reform: The Legislature should pass AB 641.