FOREST FLASH

February 2025

In Pacific Forest Trust’s e-newsletter, Forest Flash, we send you the most recent PFT news and updates on forests, clean water, climate, and wildlife. Subscribe here.

AB 491: Codifying Nature-Based Climate Action in California

California is again setting the standard for climate leadership with the introduction of AB 491, a groundbreaking bill that makes the state the first in the nation to codify climate targets for natural and working lands. Introduced by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) and sponsored by PFT, AB 491 ensures that forests, wetlands, agricultural lands, and urban green spaces play a central role in achieving carbon neutrality.

AB 491 builds on AB 1757, a 2022 law that directed the state to. As part of this process, an Expert Advisory Committee—chaired by Pacific Forest Trust President Laurie Wayburn—worked with state agencies and stakeholders to develop a suite of practical, proven, immediate and science-backed recommendations. The resulting targets, announced by Governor Newsom on Earth Day 2024, provided a roadmap for restoring fire-resilient forests, conserving wetlands, greening cities, and advancing climate-smart agriculture.  AB 491 will move these targets from recommendations into law.

Assemblymember Damon Connelly sponsors AB 491, demonstrating his steadfast commitment to conservation and protecting California’s natural resources for future generations.

Research has shown that shifting management practices on just a fraction of California’s private forests could absorb 150- 300 million metric tons of CO2 within a decade—underscoring the critical role of natural climate solutions. By integrating short-term actions like fuels management or wetlands restoration with long-term conservation, AB 491 strengthens landscapes against wildfires, floods, and biodiversity loss while creating sustainable jobs in both rural and urban communities. The bill also aligns with the voter-approved $10 billion Climate Bond passed in November 2024, which provides substantial funding to advance natural and working lands restoration, conservation, and management.

With AB 491, California continues to lead by example, demonstrating that a thriving economy and a resilient, safer, more carbon-rich landscape go hand in hand.

Planting for the Future: Restoring Forest Diversity at van Eck

As part of our long-term goal to restore the natural species diversity to the Oregon van Eck forest, PFT has been replanting the natural mix of species: Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce and Grand Fir back in to what had become pure Douglas Fir plantations.  This February, PFT completed tree planting on the van Eck Oregon forest, advancing long-term forest restoration goals across these working landscapes. Almost 30,000 seedlings were planted across 89 acres of thinned Douglas-fir plantations. Reforesting with this diversity is not just good for diversity and habitat complexity, it fosters climate resilience and helps combat pests and diseases.

These two seedlings—western red cedar and Sitka spruce—planted together in hopes that the spruce’s sharp needles will deter elk from browsing the cedar, which they find irresistibly sweet despite protective tubing and stakes.

These forests of the Oregon Central Coast Range have been highly simplified over time, with dense, even-aged stands of Douglas-fir.  These plantations are highly susceptible to Swiss needle cast, a fungal disease that weakens growth. By integrating a diverse mix of conifers into the thinned areas and gaps, this planting project is helping shift the forest toward a healthier, more resilient composition.  Additionally, western hemlock is better able to thrive than Douglas fir in the longer, hotter, drier summers that are beginning to characterize this region as part of climate change

At van Eck Oregon, our silviculture often emphasizes a variable density thinning approach, including a mix of open gaps, retained dense patches, and a more evenly spaced forest matrix. Planting is done in the gaps, ensuring a more multi-age and canopy layer forest. This method fosters habitat complexity by creating a range of light conditions, canopy layers, and microclimates that benefit wildlife.

This approach  accelerates the recovery of mature forests while maintaining the ecological functions of the land. With every seedling planted, van Eck’s forests are becoming more diverse, more resilient, and better prepared to withstand the challenges of a changing climate.

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Elusive and rarely seen, the Pacific fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a vital predator of Pacific Northwest forests from California into Canada, weaving through the canopies and shrub layers in older, more natural forests.  We have a rare and fortunate set of habitats on our  Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest (MADF) that hosts both Pacific Fisher and the Humboldt marten, similar species that often compete!  Fishers are far-ranging, carnivorous mammals requiring complex habitat—large, downed logs, standing snags, tree cavities, and thick shrub cover.  Their presence signals the property’s healthy, intact forest.

Once nearly eradicated for the fur trade, the fisher has made a fragile recovery, but habitat simplification, fragmentation and other environmental threats continue to challenge its resurgence. At MADF, PFT is ensuring that the fisher’s habitat remains intact, also managing the land to preserve the connectivity and structural diversity essential for this species’ survival.

A Pacific fisher navigates the diverse habitats of Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest, a vital corridor for its survival.

Wildlife monitoring at MADF has confirmed the fisher’s movement through its riparian shrub corridors and montane chaparral. Years ago, while tracking wildlife through the region, biologist Eugene Wier discovered fisher signs on the MADF: evidence that the species was using the area for dispersal between the watersheds of Neil and East Fork Cottonwood Creeks. These natural corridors allow fishers to migrate between drainages, search for mates, and establish new territories, ensuring genetic diversity and population resilience. Further research, including radio telemetry studies, has shown that these fishers are part of a native population that persisted in the Siskiyou Mountains despite widespread habitat loss elsewhere.

“The location of the PFT property is key for fishers,” says Wier. “With oak woodlands and chaparral to the south and deep conifer forests to the north, this area provides a unique mix of habitats. The notches along the crest create natural corridors between creek drainages, allowing fishers to move safely through the landscape. By managing for forest health while retaining the structural complexity fishers rely on, PFT is ensuring this critical migration pathway remains intact.”

By retaining large trees, minimizing fragmentation, and maintaining a natural mix of hardwoods, conifers, and shrubs, PFT is making sure that MADF continues to be a haven for fishers. Our goal is that these resilient predators remain part of the landscape, contributing to the ecological balance of the Pacific Northwest.

•  AB 491 is making headlines! The Marin Independent Journal explores how the bill strengthens California’s climate strategy by integrating natural and working lands into emissions reduction efforts, while this Agri-Pulse article highlights its alignment with the state’s broader climate goals—plus features it on their podcast.

• California’s fire resilience depends on proactive investments in beneficial fire and community protection. Pacific Forest Trust and partners are urging the state to prioritize funding for prescribed fire training, workforce development, and wildfire smoke mitigation—especially for vulnerable communities. The budget must enhance resilience, not just backfill past commitments. Read our full letter to policymakers advocating for a bold, forward-thinking approach.

• Join us for the North American Carbon World (NACW) 2025 conference, March 25-27 in Los Angeles, California. Learn, collaborate, and network at North America’s premier event on carbon markets and climate policy. NACW 2025 will present the content, community, and connections for successfully navigating the low-carbon landscape and advancing market-based climate policies and mechanisms.

• Join the Forest Stewards Guild—PNW Chapter—for a two-day event (4/25-4/26) open to all, featuring walking tours and discussions at Arcata Community Forest and van Eck Forest. Explore sustainable forest management and connect with fellow forestry professionals. Details and registration here. 

• Save the Date! This year’s Forest Fete Gala, our annual fundraiser and the premier event for forest lovers, is taking place on Thursday, April 9th, at San Francisco’s Cal Academy of Sciences. See here for more details.