Ancient giant sequoia groves scheduled for devastating logging, not protection
In April 2000, President Clinton established the Giant Sequoia National Monument to ensure
that 329,000 acres of giant sequoia groves received protection from logging and bulldozing. However, the
U.S. Forest Service has released its draft management plan for the monument, which abandons the Forest
Service’s duty to protect and restore forest ecosystems, wildlife, geologic formations, paleontological
resources, and archaeological sites. The Forest Service also ignores the clear language of the proclamation
that says monument lands are not to be opened for commercial logging operations, and proposes instead to
“protect” this monument with extensive logging—even in groves of the ancient giants.
The draft plan tosses aside the Forest Service’s own science, which finds that
logging activities are the main cause of fire risk and severity. The proclamation requires a science
advisory board to guide the Forest Service in developing this plan. Thus far, this board has been
merely commenting on superficial queries but giving no substantial guidance.
The only alternative in the draft plan which does not call for major logging is
Alternative 4. It calls for tree cutting only in the near vicinity of structures and in areas of
high human use, as recommended in recent fire behavior studies. In the general forest, Alternative 4
relies primarily on hand thinning and prescribed fire to restore the forest. It increases compatible
recreation such as camping, hiking, riding, and cross-country skiing. It also restricts off-road vehicle
use to forest roads.
What you can do
Please write to the Forest Service by March 17 and ask them to
protect the Giant Sequoia National Monument from logging. To view a copy of
the draft plan online, visit the monument’s website at http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/giant_sequoia/
Four public meetings will be held from February 10th through the 18th in Porterville, Bakersfield,
Fresno, and Los Angeles. See the previous website for more details.
Please send your letter to:
Jim Whitfield, Team Leader
Giant Sequoia National Monument
900 West Grand Avenue
Porterville, CA 93257
Email: GSNM_Public@fs.fed.us
Please send a copy of your letter to:
Senator Barbara Boxer
1700 Montgomery St. # 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 403-0100
Fax: (415) 956-6701
Senator Dianne Feinstein
One Post St. # 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Fax: (415) 393-0710
Jason Swartz
California Wilderness Coalition
2655 Portage Bay East # 5
Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 758-0380
Points to make in your letter:
1. The preferred alternative, Alternative 6, is completely unacceptable.
It fails to value these unique natural wonders and is blinded by the Forest Service’s allegiance
to the timber industry. It would open the monument to commercial logging, ignoring the most basic
requirements of the monument proclamation. This alternative gives the administration the power
to do anything it wants with the least amount of accountability. We suggest you adamantly oppose
Alternatives 2, 3, 5, and especially 6.
2. Alternative 4 most closely follows the original proclamation. We suggest
you propose adopting Alternative 4 because it: 1) Has two sensible management zones, one for those
areas of high human use and another with an integrated ecosystem approach, 2) It allows tree removal
only for fuels reduction in areas near structures and where human safety is most important, 3) It
relies on hand thinning and prescribed and natural burning as primary management tools, and 4) It
allows increased non-motorized recreation and keeps the historic trail network intact.
Your letter must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2003. Thank you for your help!
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Just three miles off of Interstate 80, 
