California State Senate Approvals the Heritage Tree Preservation Act

[Nate Binzen]

Last week, we let you know that the Heritage Tree Preservation Act, a bill
aimed at protecting a number of California's old-growth species 
(coastal redwood,
giant sequoia, Douglas fir; Port Orford Cedar, and hardwoods over 150 years
old) passed through the Appropriations Committee of the California State
Senate.

This Wednesday, the landmark bill that will outlaw cutting of California's
ancient trees took a major step towards becoming law, by passing the state
senate in a 24-16 vote. Senate bill 754, the Heritage Tree Preservation Act,
sponsored by Senator Don Perata (D-Oakland) will now move on to the Assembly
for a crucial upcoming vote.

"We are ecstatic that the Senate has chosen to protect these ancient
treasures, because once they are gone, they are gone forever," said Senator
Perata. "This bill will preserve their magnificent legacy for our children
and grandchildren."

SB 754 will protect "heritage" trees on non-federal forestland that were
alive in 1850, marking the year of California's statehood and the onset of
commercial logging, and meet species-specific diameter requirements.
California has already lost 97% to 99% of its ancient trees. This bill will
only affect the remaining 1% of trees on non-federal forestland that qualify
for heritage protection.

"The Heritage Tree Preservation Act gives us a unique and perhaps final
opportunity to protect what has become an endangered species - old-growth
trees," said Julia Butterfly Hill. "They decrease fire risks, boost our
state's economy, increases tourism, improve air quality, provide critical
habitats for endangered species, promote biodiversity, and improve the
health or our rivers, streams, flora and fauna."

The bill is supported by a broad coalition of environmental, public interest
and religious organizations, including the Campaign for Old Growth (CFOG),
the California League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, the Green
Party of California, Circle of Life, Forests Forever, Bay Area Coalition for
Headwaters, Voice of the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Island
Institute, Friends of the Eel River, the Forestry Monitoring Project,
Greenpeace, The Regeneration Project, the Episcopal Church Diocese of
California and the California Oaks Foundation.
Yesterday's vote in the Senate "was a critical step in the right direction.
I hope the State Assembly will be equally as dedicated to the preservation
of our Heritage trees," said Susan Moloney, Executive Director of CFOG, who
recently completed a 52-day hunger strike to bring attention to the state of
our old-growth trees.

The State Assembly is the next hurdle toward getting this bill passed into
law.
This will be one of the most difficult challenges yet. No date has been set
for when the bill will be presented before the assembly. Get the latest at
http://www.ancienttrees.org/.