MCWRA Board of Directors Adopt Forest Management Principles
MEDIA CONTACT:
Justin Caporusso
Executive Director/MCWRA
ExecutiveDirector.mcwra11@gmail.com
(916) 412-0571
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MCWRA Board of Directors Adopt Forest Management Principles
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES, Calif. (FEBRUARY 21, 2024) – Earlier this month, the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association (MCWRA) Board of Directors officially adopted a set of Forest Management Principles (Principles). Developed through the MCWRA Forest Management Ad Hoc Committee, the Principles outline the forest management priorities and policy positions of the association, and provide parameters that allow for the Legislative Committee and Executive Director to engage in advocacy efforts on behalf of the association and its members. The Principles complement the association’s Water Policy Principles.
More than 75 percent of California’s water originates in the Sierra Nevada-Cascade watersheds. Healthy, resilient forests are vital to maintain adequate quality and quantity of source water supply and clean air for local, regional, and statewide needs. California is facing a wildfire and forestry crisis. The hazardous fuel build-up in our overgrown forests is massive and catastrophically dangerous. Climate change is leading to increased mega wildfires, droughts, tree mortality, impacts on communities, huge quantities of Greenhouse Gases, and toxic smoke that impacts all Californians. Sustained State and Federal investment and major changes in forest management are needed to protect the millions of acres of at-risk forestland.
Benefits of Restoring Healthy, Fire-Adapted Forests
- Protects against severe mega wildfires
- Protects water quality
- Protects water infrastructure and statewide water supply
- Protects utility infrastructure
- Protects community safety
- Protects air quality and reduces health hazards from toxic wildfire smoke
- Protects soil productivity and prevents soil erosion and reduces flooding
- Increases biodiversity and protects old-growth tree stands
- Prevents release of large quantities of carbon dioxide from mega wildfires
- Sustains forests as long-term carbon sinks and prevents forests from being converted to low carbon sequestration brush fields by severe wildfire
- Mitigates climate change by accumulation of carbon in healthy forests
MCWRA’s recently adopted Forest Management Principles can be accessed here.
Mountain Counties Water Resources Association Mission is to promote the statewide importance of Sierra Nevada water resources through advocacy and collaboration. This Mission is realized through strengthening Members’ regional leadership, collaboration, information sharing, issue awareness, education, advocacy, and potential legislative action or legal support.
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