Bill for Old Growth Going Up For A Vote in Legislature - The Heritage Tree Preservation Act
is still standing!
Up For A Vote in Legislature
The Heritage Tree Preservation Act
is still standing!
July 1, 2004
The Heritage Tree Preservation Act (now SB 754) is a bill to protect California's oldest and largest trees. The original initiative was inspired by Julia Butterfly Hill's marathon tree sit. Thousands of volunteers across the state worked to get the initiative on the California ballot. The initiative, which became SB 754, was introduced in the State Senate by Majority Leader Don Perata and made it through the California Senate last year.
It came up just one vote shy of passing the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources last year but was granted reconsideration and so will come up before the Committee again soon. It will then move on to the Appropriations Committee before going to the floor of the Assembly and finally to the Governor's desk. Ask your representative and Governor Schwarzenegger to protect California's old-growth trees and let him know that you want to live in California because of natural treasures like our Heritage Trees. Governor Schwarzenegger's telephone number is: (916) 445-2841.
We are finally getting close to protecting some of the less than 1% of Heritage Trees still living on non-federal forestland in California, but your voice and your continued support are needed to make this a reality. You can learn more about the bill and identify your legislative representative at the Campaign for Old Growth website: http://www.ancienttrees.org.
A nutshell overview:
SB 754--The Heritage Tree Preservation Act
A SB 754 protects Giant Sequoias, Coast Redwoods, Douglas-firs, Port Orford Cedars and hardwoods living on non-federal forestland, that were alive in 1850 and meet species-specific diameter requirements.
- The year 1850 is used to classify "Heritage Trees" for historical and scientific reasons.
A Protection of our Heritage Trees helps California's economy and the entire ecosystem by increasing property values, creating cleaner water basins and healthier fish. It decreases fire risks and increases tourism and recreation.This bill is good for the environment, good for California, and good for the planet.
A Proposals to log old-growth trees have increased this year due to fears and misunderstandings surrounding forest fire prevention, along with the Bush Administration's increased logging initiatives in the Sierras and across the state.
A Heritage Trees are a natural defense against forest fires. Old-growth trees have large canopies that darken the forest floor, maintaining dampness and naturally decreasing the risk of fires.
A Heritage Trees are an internationally recognized symbol of California, yet there are no comprehensive statewide protections for them. 97-99% of these treasures are already lost. Please join us in supporting the passage of SB 754 and help protect the last of our natural heritage.
