Monday, November 20, 2023 — 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Sierra Club California Forest Protection Forum’s next Forest protection Forum
“The Battle to Protect The Russian River Redwoods: Lessons Learned from a Successful Campaign” by Colin Baptie and Maeve Katherine Bergman
In 2020, a plan to log 224-acres of redwoods and Douglas firs along the Russian River in Sonoma County was filed with CalFire. Local residents and community members joined forces in a group called the Guerneville Forest Coalition (GFC) to fight the timber harvest plan. In October, it was announced that nearly 400 acres of redwood forest, including the area to be logged, had been purchased by Save The Redwoods League. In a huge win for conservation, the forest and its ecosystem, including one mile of scenic riverfront, will be protected and restored. The tallest tree in Sonoma County – the 2,000 year old Clar Tree – and other pockets of old growth redwoods will be placed within a conservation easement. The popular Highway 116 scenic corridor will have its views preserved.
Stopping a timber harvest plan is significant. It rarely happens. In this Forest Protection Forum, learn how the GFC managed to delay approval of the THP, build support for their conservation efforts, and work with various stakeholders to secure a positive outcome. GFC co-founders, Colin Baptie and Maeve Katherine Bergman, will talk about their successful campaign and the lessons learned from taking on big timber and its regulatory ally, CalFire.
Register here.
