Coalition Launches Campaign to Save California's Old-Growth

Press Release: Coalition Launches Campaign to Save California\'s Old-Growth

For Immediate Release
July 23, 2001

Contacts: Susan Moloney (707.923.1194), Fred Krueger (707.573.3161), Warren Linney (707.566.6300), Rev. Sally Bingham (415.929.1589), Dr. Barak Gale (925.934.6299)
Citizens\' Campaign for Old Growth Preservation


SACRAMENTO

A coalition of business, social, civic, and conservation organizations announced today the submission of a ballot initiative aimed at preserving California\'s remaining ancient and old-growth trees. Trees alive in the year California became a state (1850) would be spared if the initiative becomes law.

Visit the initiative homepage at: http://www.ancienttrees.org/

\"This initiative is our last best hope to preserve what remains of the unprotected old-growth forests of California,\" said Dan Hamburg, former north coast congressperson and currently executive director of V.O.T.E. Action Committee, one of the initiative\'s sponsors. \"In so doing, we are not only saving trees. We are saving a bit of our humanity by taking responsibility as steward\'s of God\'s creation. This is not merely an ecological issue, but a moral and ethical issue.\"

Polls conducted by the coalition show that 65% of Californians favor preserving what is left of the state\'s ancient forest heritage. \"These trees are part of our heritage, not only as a state, but also as a nation and a planet,\" said Julia Butterfly Hill. \"Our government should be the ones protecting this international heritage, but because they\'ve failed, we, the people, have decided to protect the last of this living legacy,\" she added.

A growing number of business leaders also favor saving the last of the old-growth. Warren Linney, chairman of the board of Broadlink Communications of Santa Rosa and owner of a Sonoma County wood products company remarked, \"As a businessman and a firewood cutter, I value the heritage and living ecosystem of an old-growth forest. Old-growth is important for the tourist economy of our state and serves as a living museum for our communities and families. I urge Californians to place this initiative on the ballot and vote for it.\"

The initiative applies to all old-growth trees and stands on California\'s non-federal forestlands. Forestlands are defined as lands capable of growing a crop of trees of any commercial value, including state-owned forests and private property. It is estimated that less than 3% of the native forests of California are still standing. Most of this is already protected in state parks. This initiative would put the rest off limits for logging operations and other activities that could damage old-growth trees and stands.

Religious organizations from around the state and the nation have rallied to support this initiative. \"God gave us free ecosystem services of which trees play a major role,\" said The Reverend Sally Bingham, chair of the Commission on the Environment for the Episcopal Diocese of California. \"Trees are essential for our survival and the older the tree, the more valuable for the health of our planet. It is our responsibility as people of faith to preserve these irreplaceable trees for generations to come.\"

The Central Conference of American Rabbis recently passed a resolution calling for \"the safeguarding of the patchwork of remnant old-growth forests that remain.\" \"Trees are like the air we breathe in the Jewish tradition,\" said Walnut Creek optician and chair of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life Dr. Barak Gale. \"Our Torah is called the Tree of Life and we are taught that if not for the trees, there could be no human life. Yet we continue to ravage our forests for decking, trim, and toilet paper.\"

Groups supporting the initiative include: Voice of the Environment, Rainforest Action Network, the Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation, the Green Party of California, the Episcopal Church Diocese of California, Ancient Forest International, Friends of the Eel River, the Southern California Ecumenical Council\'s Eco-Task Force, the Bay Area Chapter of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the World Stewardship Institute, Christians Caring for Creation, the Environmental Ministries of Southern California, and V.O.T.E. Action Committee.

Dr. Gordon Lebedz, Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club and Medea Benjamin, founder of Global Exchange and recent Green Party US Senate candidate have endorsed the initiative as have several prominent entertainers including Bonnie Raitt and Woody Harrelson. Martin Litton, a founder of the Sierra Club and leading preservationist of giant sequoias, helped to write the initiative.