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Forest Protection Campaign
Background
The county is considering four options for how to prioritize the
need to keep land in timber production relative to the need to
allow conversion to agriculture (usually vineyards).
This whole debate pertains to conversion of timber lands
rather than conversion of oak woodlands. While we will continue
to try to find ways to protect oak woodlands, the current debate
is unfortunately limited to TIMBER lands.
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Courtesy of National Park Service
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Note that while the current debate applies to conversions from timber
to agriculture, it does not apply to timber harvest practices in general.
The outcome of this debate has bearing on whether or not a
person could clearcut for the purpose of putting in a new vineyard,
but would not prevent a person from clearcutting if they replanted
trees afterwards.
The four options are:
- Continue with the status quo because the fraction of timber
lands that have been converted to vineyards is less than 1%.
- Discourage the conversion of timberland by not allowing
agricultural uses that would require conversion in the 69,000
acres that are zoned TP (Timber Production).
- Same as Option #2, but apply to the 194,000 acres of timber
in the RRD Land Use category (whether or not they are zoned TP).
- Allow conversion of the 69,000 acres of TP on a case by case
basis.
More background information is available by looking on the
PRMD
web site for staff reports and additional meeting information.
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