This is Huge! A Bill to Change Jackson’s Mandate!
Since its inception in 2020, the mission of the Mendocino Trail Stewards has been to change the mandate of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF): to prioritize not the demonstration of commercial logging, but to instead manage for climate risk reduction, biodiversity, recreation, and tribal co-management.
We are thrilled to announce that we are one giant step closer to our goal! On February 20th, Assemblymember Chris Rogers introduced AB2494, a bill that would end the commercial logging mandate of JDSF.
JDSF Draft 2026 Forest Management Plan is Visionless
A mercurial and undated, seemingly complete Draft Forest Management Plan for Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) has been unveiled - a scant 33 pages plus introduction. Sadly, the new plan looks less like the “New Vision” promised by Cal Fire, and more like an old blind spot with a splash of greenwashing.
SAVE THE DATES! SAVE THE FOREST!
Three new timber harvest plans (THPs) are in the works for the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF). These plans have already been approved by the Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) without a new forest management plan in place.
CalFire has just announced it will hold eight public meetings (four in Fort Bragg and four in Ukiah) to get input on the draft management plan for JDSF, and the first one is coming up soon, on October 21st. Strong participation is crucial, so mark your calendars and plan to attend as many of these meetings as possible!
Sept 15th JAG Meeting Summary
The September 15th JAG meeting attempted a discussion of a "Scope of Work" for revising the management plan for the Forest, and the approval of two new THPs…
Make Your Voice Heard at the November 15th JAG Meeting
Upcoming JAG meeting November 15th starting at 9:00 am, at the first Presbyterian Church in Fort Bragg.
An Eye-opening Letter from Scientists Proposes New Vision for JDSF
The purpose of this letter is two-fold: Part 1 sets the stage and provides important background for placing the specific recommendations in the context for which they are meant to be understood. Part 2 provides the recommendations themselves.
Upcoming JAG Meeting June 6, 2023
There will be a Jackson Advisory Group Meeting June 6, 2023. The meeting starts at 9:00 am. The meeting will be located at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Bragg followed by a field tour.
We strongly encourage all who can to attend. These meetings are open to the public and offer an opportunity to see what CalFire has planned and for some limited public input.
What’s up with the Caspar 500 Timber Harvest Plan?
CalFire approved the Caspar 500 THP in 2020, but the harvest was halted by activists in the summer of 2021. CalFire proposed changes to the plan in May 2022. The Mendocino Trail Stewards did not support the revised plan. On May 15th 2023, the Caspar 500 timber sale contract expired. So, what’s next for this beloved patch of forest adjacent to the community of Caspar?
The Closure of EZN (Blue Gum) Trail
You may have noticed that your old favorite trail on Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF), EZN, has been closed. Logging in the Caspar 500 area hasn’t been active for two years, so why close the trail now?
What is a fuel break?
A fuel break is a strip of land where vegetation has been removed down to bare earth so that a fire moving into the area can be more readily controlled. For a fuel break to be effective, the width and length must be sufficient to reduce fire spread and intensity. The theory of a fuel break is that when the fire hits the break, there is no fuel for it to continue spreading, therefore stopping the fire from progressing. In addition, by creating breaks ahead of time, there are established zones that firefighters can use to make a stand…
Valentine's Dinner & Concert with Alice DiMicele!
Valentines Dinner Concert with Alice DiMicele
