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The Campaign for Old Growth
Because once they're gone, they're
gone forever.
Hello Friends!
We're back.
Actually, we never really went away. We've taken a little
time to lick our wounds and marshal our forces and, we hope,
come back stronger and more optimistic than even before. We
have both short-term and long-term exciting plans, but we
can't move forward without your help.
First, a brief refresher: in 2003, Senator Don Perata (now
President of the State Senate) introduced Senate Bill 754,
the Heritage Tree Preservation Act. With the extraordinary
help of politicians like Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Senate
President John Burton, artists like Jewel, James Taylor, Bonnie
Raitt, Jackson Browne & Don Henley, organizations such
as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace & the Rainforest Action
Network, and activists like Julia Butterfly Hill & former
Congressmen Dan Hamburg, we were able to move 754 all the
way through the Senate, through two Assembly committees and
finally to the Assembly Floor.
In 2006, Senator Perata reintroduced the bill as Senate Bill
1799. We attempted to make some compromises on the bill to
get more moderates in the Assembly to vote for it, but the
amendments actually lost us support, and the bill died in
the Senate Finance Committee.
We've spent a lot of time since thinking about what we can
do to finally succeed in saving our magnificent heritage trees.
We believe we've got a two-pronged idea that just might work
- if you can get behind it.
First, The Campaign for Old Growth is currently
working to see that existing state funds are allocated for
the purchase of old-growth forests in Northern California.
YOU CAN HELP by sending a letter to the Wildlife Conservation
Board. Ask them, in your most polite voice, to allocate funds
from Prop. 84 for the protection of old-growth forests.
Second, we will be working on a new version
of the Act in January 2008. But we've learned our lesson:
this time, no compromise! The Heritage Tree Preservation Act
will protect our legacy - California's remaining large, old-growth
trees.
If you live in California, contact your State Assemblyperson
and State Senator and ask them to author this historic legislation.
To find your Assemblyperson and Senator, go to http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/
MEMBERINFORMATION/MEMBERINFO.HTM
We are also working to reassemble the old CFOG coalition of
activists, organizations, artists and politicians that were
pivotal in our almost successful effort five years ago. Any
help you can give CFOG in that regard would be great.
Finally, we need to start fundraising again
for the next step in our legislative struggle. We don't have
any hope of success without the money to drive this campaign.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE.
Please be as generous as you can.
Thanks so much for your concern about our irreplaceable old-growth
trees. Together, we WILL save our remaining ancient trees!
:-)
Help us pass this historic legislation!
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
To protect California's last remaining old-growth trees for
future generations. These irreplaceable trees are a cornerstone
of our unique natural heritage that includes the Earth's tallest,
largest and oldest surviving organisms.
NEED FOR THE BILL
Most of California's old-growth forests have been cut down.
With only 3% of California's old-growth trees still standing,
there are currently no state or federal laws protecting them,
leaving old-growth trees on non-federal forest land at tremendous
risk.
WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO
The Heritage Tree Preservation Act (HTPA) protects heritage
trees, such as Giant Sequoias, Coast Redwoods, Douglas-firs,
Port Orford Cedars and others species on private forestland
that were alive in 1850 and that also meet species-specific
diameter requirements.
The HTPA prohibits the cutting or damaging of any such heritage
tree.
The Heritage Tree Preservation Act will help California's
economy and environment by increasing property values, ensuring
clean drinking water, decreasing fire risks, cleaning our
air and providing healthier habitat for endangered species.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
• Contact your State Representatives. Go to
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/
MEMBERINFORMATION/MEMBERINFO.HTM
Ask them to author The Heritage Tree Preservation Act. A personal
letter is best. E-mails are least effective.
• Stay tuned to this website for future updates.
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