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Deanna Wulff
Sport climber
Mariposa, CA
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Nov 27, 2017 - 04:49pm PT
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Hey Folks -
Again lots of talking here, but no one has actually written to me with a question, and that's going to beget more misinformation.
But in regards to logging, there is no evidence it increases fire safety. They are inversely correlated...
The National Parks do very little logging and their forests are in better shape than our National Forests, by a wide margin. Our parks also have an effective controlled burn program, which is better at controlling fire and better for forest ecology, and much cheaper.
See the data shown in the link - you can download a report and read it, if you are interested in the data and science on this. Here is a summary:
Mechanical thinning is very expensive and it is rarely done in our National Parks (less than 1 percent of management). In our National Forests, it costs $565 per acre to thin versus $145 per acre for controlled burns. This article compares what is spent per acre on thinning versus controlled burns versus wildfire specifically in the Sierra Nevada - Parks v Forest Service. See Table 2, page 394. The title of the article is "Using Fire to Increase the Scale, Benefits, and Future Maintenance of Fuels Treatments" by Dr. Malcolm North, Dr. Scott Stephens, and Dr. Brandon M. Collins: https://www.fs.fed.us/.../pub.../north/psw_2013_north004.pdf
If you want to ask about access, then please ask a specific question at director@unitetheparks.org.
I realize it takes courage to write to a person directly and it's easier to write anonymously, but I highly recommend communicating with me. I've spent thousands of hours working directly in the gateway communities, and found people in-person to be thoughtful and delightful.
Regards,
Deanna
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Deanna Wulff
Sport climber
Mariposa, CA
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Nov 27, 2017 - 05:15pm PT
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I didn't mention anything about posting to a site.
Anyone can write me an email (which they control), and any response I write in an email is there as a record. I treat everything I write as having the potential to be re-posted and reprinted thousands of times.
This is the world we live in. I do not write anonymously. I write from the heart and authentically.
People here have expressed an opinion, but no one has written to me or used their real name. I'm not sure what to make of that. But I would ask that if you do write to me, please let me know who you are and why you are writing.
Thanks.
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ruppell
climber
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Nov 27, 2017 - 05:20pm PT
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First, Ruppell is my real name. Second, why would I take the time to right you personally when I disagree with you? I'd rather disagree with you on this here. That way others can agree or disagree and we get a consensus of whether most are like me and think this is a waste of time or most are like you and think we need to save the Sierra from whatever you think it needs saving from.
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c wilmot
climber
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Nov 27, 2017 - 05:29pm PT
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Does that cost per acre factor in controlled burns that get out of hand? As they sometimes do...
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Nov 27, 2017 - 05:55pm PT
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If you really want to help the Sierra...at least on the Westside...figure out how to get the illegal Cartel Pot growers out of there and while you are at it - the Fresno Hmong keep coming up Chiquito Creek netting the streams stripping them of trout and crayfish for sale to restaurants.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Nov 28, 2017 - 09:28am PT
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Deanna,
So this is from the Unite the Parks web site.
We are a passionate collection of unique individuals who support preserving federal land for people and wildlife. We believe that wildlife and human life are deeply intertwined and that it is our responsibility to care for each other and for the natural world. So we're doing just that. Our primary focus area is the federal land between Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. By protecting more than one million acres and three major watersheds, we hope to revitalize the forest and preserve it for future generations, while encouraging recreation, outdoor immersion and a healthy lifestyle. We are also support the development of a non-motorized trails system. Need more information? Below are specific answers to common questions and links to report for those eager to learn more. You can also contact us at director@unitetheparks.org. Thanks. It appears to be something of a mission statement but, unfortunately, other than making vague statements about "protection", it doesn't clearly state what the end result is. While there are FAQs below the statement, those consist of one sentence responses to questions about controlled burns, Pacific fishers, etc.
I'm sure there is (or should be) a clearer statement of intent, but it's not evident from your website what it is and why. How come?
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rincon
climber
Coarsegold
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Nov 28, 2017 - 10:40am PT
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This photo shows only 3 of 7 piles of dead trees prepped for burning this winter. Over 2000 20 foot pines from less than 7 acres.
Another 5000 are down and awaiting their turn once we clear this burn zone. That leaves another 2000 or so we will be cutting over the winter.
Whatever your opinion of logging...the death of so many trees requires that logging be done anyway.
Sounds like this is private property. Can't blame the USFS for not thinning that. Or has there been a law against thinning trees on private property?
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Nov 28, 2017 - 03:22pm PT
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Hi Deanna, just emailed you but I'll post the short version here in case you missed it. Feel free to answer here or via email.
What specific changes is the project hoping to make to the management and regulation of the Seirra NF? I gather from the reading that stopping logging and increasing controlled burns is one goal, but what are the others?
Thanks,
-Daniel
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Nov 28, 2017 - 03:33pm PT
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Not to burst anyone's National Monument bubble, but the word is that Trump is coming to Utah on Monday to announce that Bears Ears and GSNM are being drastically shrunk.
If we can't even protect the land we have as National Monuments, the chances of getting another one with the current bunch in power is somewhat less than zero.
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Yury
Mountain climber
T.O.
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Nov 28, 2017 - 07:05pm PT
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Fat Dad:
However, loggers don't clear out saplings unless they need to access the larger trees that they want to log. Actually they do.
I am not familiar with situation in California.
However at least in some areas, when a logging company owns or have a long term lease of a forest, they remove such saplings to ensure health of trees.
They "prune" their forest similar to how a gardener prunes fruit trees.
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