HomeMy WebLinkAbout120122 FW_ Forestry Workshop Presentation - Thank you
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From: Steve Grace
Sent: Thursday, December 1, 2022 10:28:41 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: Malloree J Weinheimer
Cc: Heidi Eisenhour; Greg Brotherton; Kate Dean
Subject: Forestry Workshop Presentation - Thank you
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Dear Malloree,
Thank you very much for your presentation. I didn't comment during the meeting because you and the commissioners already know my thoughts, and I wanted other people to have a chance
to talk and weigh in.
I thought the comments about the "false dichotomy" of forest preservation versus forest use were insightful--and I liked how Greg Brotherton highlighted that idea at the end of the meeting.
I especially enjoyed hearing the young man speak about why legacy forests were important to him. That has always been my goal: to make sure the Quimper Lost Wilderness and a surrounding
buffer are preserved in perpetuity so this rare remnant of old-growth rainshadow forest can be passed along to the next generation.
Because the forest north of Cape George Road has already been harvested, that property has always seemed to me like a reasonable place to practice sustainable forestry, as long as the
old-growth and a buffer south of Cape George Road are preserved in perpetuity.
The whole 232-acre Cape George / Quimper Unit seems like the perfect showpiece for balancing multiple community interests: preserving the rare old-growth stand in one part of the forest
while actively managing other parts of the forest for fire mitigation, forest health, recreation, and timber harvest to generate locally sourced wood and revenue. Thoughtful management
of this unit seems like a great way to move past the false dichotomy of preservation versus use.
If this project comes to fruition, it might make sense to install informational signage on the property to help the public understand all the thought and work that has gone into developing
a balanced forest management approach that responds to multiple community needs.
I appreciate the County Commissioners making space for a public conversation to happen about how to best manage our forests, and I appreciate your balanced, thoughtful approach to sustainable
forest management. I am grateful for the work you are doing, Malloree, and I know that many other people in the community are also. I hope you continue to play a role in helping the
county follow a path toward a sustainable forestry future.
Sincerely,
Steve Grace
Steve Grace | 720.938.8289 | stevegrace5280@gmail.com <mailto:stevegrace5280@gmail.com>