Climate and Economic Recovery: An Essential Partnership
Climate change action cannot wait, despite the pandemic. In fact, responding to the economic impacts of our current health crisis can—and must—be a way to address both climate change and economic recovery. Doing so will also accelerate the long-needed investment in the rural communities of California and throughout the West.
As we are experiencing another year of drought with a likely prolonged and intense fire season, the need for restoring our watersheds for both reduced fire impacts and increased water security is all the more imperative. This is why PFT is sponsoring California legislation AB2693 (Bloom) and advocating for investments in watershed restoration (as seen in PFT’s President Wayburn’s May 13th guest opinion in the San Francisco Chronicle). The work called for under AB 2693 will have multiple benefits for water security, reduce fire risks and support thousands of good jobs in a chronically underemployed region of the state. AB 2693 would establish a new interagency office to develop and implement a comprehensive restoration and conservation plan for the 7 million acres that comprise these watersheds. The bill passed through Committee on May 14th.
This work is a “ready-to go” example of the green infrastructure jobs and economy that come from addressing climate change. PFT is urging the new Economic Recovery Task Force assembled by California Governor Newsom, and led by noted climate champion Tom Steyer, to seize this opportunity. Learn more about Healthy Watersheds California.
Of Bees and Beavers
Bees and beavers are both key players in the many services forests provide, from pollination to water. Forest landowners are increasingly embracing the value of having both thrive in their forests. While most people are familiar with honey bees, none of the 7 species we have now in the US are native, and there are over 4,000 native bees in North America! 1,600 of those have been recorded in California to date, and an estimated 500 are in Oregon. Honey bees (Apis) and native bees (Augochloropsis and many others) can co-exist well and peacefully. They co-exist best where there are diverse habitats, such as on the PFT-conserved Mountcrest Forest in southern Oregon. That is why Mountcrest landowner, Jud Parsons, and PFT are happy to allow honey bee keeping as part of the management plan on his property, as one of the potential sources of economic return.
Honey bees need water and shade, both abundant in this Mountcrest meadow. Wild bees live in the large old trees with hollow openings and large dead hollow snags found in the Mountcrest forest.
Another forest denizen PFT’s stewardship is benefitting is the beaver (Castor canadensis). Called “nature’s engineer” for their amazing abilities to dam streams, beavers have been hunted and harassed by landowners for decades. Only now are they being more fully appreciated for their essential work in forests and streams to help manage our water resources. PFT has beavers living on a number of our conserved lands, such as on the McCloud Soda Springs property in California and the van Eck forest in Oregon and we support their expanded population across their historic range. Increasingly, land managers are welcoming beaver back and making beaver dam analogues as a substitute to help re-water meadows, increase groundwater storage, and improve fish habitat, amongst other benefits. This is why PFT is urging the Oregon Wildlife Commission support the suggested amendments to Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations (OAR 635-050-0070) to stop the legal trapping of beaver on public lands in Oregon. See our letter to the Commissions.
Drinking well, Doing good: Cheers to our Wonderful Working Forests!
Thanks to our friends at Alder Springs Vineyard’s Shelter in Place Initiative (SIPS), you can enjoy a case of their world-class wine at a discount and support Pacific Forest Trust too! Stuart Bewley of Alder Springs (whom we are honored to have as a PFT Board member) has launched the SIPS initiative to help make life a little better while supporting non-profits in these challenging times. These are delightful wines, as personally tasted and attested to by PFT Board Member Bob Barrett as well as our President Laurie Wayburn!
Visit Alder Springs Vineyard’s website, select Pacific Forest Trust as your SIPS beneficiary, choose a case of wine from the special SIPS offerings at the special discounted price of $395 (regularly $540), place your order, and PFT will receive a $200 donation!
With SIPS, when you have a glass of Alder Springs’ terrific wine, make a toast to celebrate America’s forests, and know your support helps PFT sustain them for all their benefits of water, wildlife, and people’s well-being.