Comment Log Display

To: California Air Resources Board

At your hearing this week you will be adopting protocols on the use
of California's forest resources in the Climate Action Reserve
program.  I urge that you reject the current proposal to use (or
permit) clearcutting methods in the offset program for sequestering
carbon.  California's forests are the lungs and filters for our air
and water.  This is not a hyperbolic statement and should be taken
seriously by those considering the protocols which could
essentially damage those natural processes.

The carbon emissions from clearcutting—which includes all the
impacts from soil disturbance—are not offset for 80 to 100 years or
more. We do not have time to wait that long, in the battle to save
the planet from global warming. Under this plan, polluters will be
able to trade their emissions for credits from forestry “offsets”
that are not offsets at all, and will only serve to hasten the
demise of the planet and California’s rich biological heritage.
And, California’s forests are more than chunks of carbon;
California’s Sierra Nevada and Klamath-Siskiyou forests are
designated global biodiversity hotspots. Clearcutting – as
practiced by the majority of timber companies in the state and
sanctioned by our state regulators—permanently eliminates habitat
for entire suites of plants and wipes out the entire home ranges
for dozens of animals. Even though trees are replanted, the
resulting tree farm bears nothing in common with a natural forest
(except for the presence of one or two species of conifers).   

Again, I urge you to protect the integrity of the climate program
and resiliency of California's forests by: a) eliminating from the
program clearcutting of our forests as a way of sequestering
carbon; b)adding provisions to assure that forest projects do not
result in the conversion of naturally managed practices into
clearcut plantations.  

Thank you for consideration of my comments.

Sincerely,
Barbara Rivenes
Nevada City