Step-by-step advice given on long-term management and stewardship
Humboldt Sentinel
1/3/09
By Sentinel Staff
ARCATA -- The Arcata Community Forest is profiled in “Acquiring and Managing a Community Owned Forest: A Manual for Communities,” a guide for communities interested in establishing a community-owned forest.
“There is a tremendous interest around the country in establishing and utilizing community forests in strategies for regional conservation and community and economic development,” says Mark Andre, Arcata’s Environmental Services director. “We are pleased to be featured in the manual.”
The manual includes step-by-step advice on getting started, engaging the broader community, financing acquisition, and long-term management and stewardship, as well as an extensive, annotated list of additional resources. It can be downloaded free at www.communitiescommittee.org/index.html.
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3 comments:
A month ago I took a walk in Arcata forest. It’d been 8 years since I argued that their management plan was degrading the landscape. I never cease to be amazed how people act like any management that doesn’t
clear-cut is good management. But truth is you can destroy a forest’s
ability to grow not by cutting every tree but by destroying it’s
soils. And the soil compaction rates that I’ve seen in this forest are off the charts. I wholeheartedly supporteded black sheep Humboldt State Forestry Professor Rudy Becking 9 years ago when he argued that Arcata community forest suffered too much soil compaction due to campers / recreation. Projected tree growth rates after the first thinnings failed to meet projections because of this and it’s total insanity to
claim further thinnings of the forest will increase tree growth
rates.
I remember Prof. Becking's reprimand of city officials on several occasions. He was very concerned with the rate of growth and the use of "patch cuts" and from what I've seen in that forest, I think some of his concerns in that regard are perfectly justified.
You're welcome to send in a letter or column on this subject, if you like.
Thanks!
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