Bill to End Commercial Logging Mandate in State Forests Passes First Committee

On March 23rd, legislation sponsored by EPIC and authored by Asm. Chris Rogers passed out of its first legislative committee, the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The bill, AB 2494, aims to upend the commercial logging mandate for state demonstration forests and replace it with a mandate to demonstrate restoration forestry and conservation, among other important values. The bill passed through the Assembly Natural Resources Committee with 10 ayes and 4 noes and was also amended to attempt to address concerns from the forestry industry. This is the first of many successes that are needed in order to get this critical legislation passed and signed into law. 

Buffie Campell, Executive Director of the Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, and Ted Williams, Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, provided witness testimony in support of the bill. “The historical impact of the management of JDSF is concerning to tribes due to the impact of destructive logging practices. AB 2494 would be the first opportunity for tribal nations to voice their concerns about our relatives, the redwoods,” explained Ms. Campbell. 

Supervisor Williams added, “Historically, our economy was rooted in resource extraction, a model with ever-decreasing ceilings. Timber tax revenue today is a rounding error for us. In 2021, I sponsored a County Resolution requesting a scientific review of JDSF. It passed unanimously, shortly after Deputy Secretary Jessica Morris of the California Natural Resources Agency joined us to respond directly. AB 2494 is the logical next step to that conversation.” 

Opposition testimony included Matt Diaz, from the California Forestry Association, and Peter Ansel, from the California Farm Bureau. “The bill redefines management to prioritize onsite carbon storage and ecological processes, and restricts timber harvest to only restoration and research purposes. In doing so, it treats carbon as something that must remain standing rather than recognizing the full carbon lifecycle of working forests. The bill creates a false choice between carbon storage and timber harvest,” said Ansel. 

“We are thrilled to see AB 2494 move forward,” said Tom Wheeler, Executive Director at EPIC. “This bill represents a long-overdue shift toward forest management that reflects the realities of the climate crisis and the values of Californians. State Demonstration Forests should lead by example—and AB 2494 ensures they do just that.”

The next day, the bill saw yet another small victory by receiving formal support from the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. The meeting, which stretched for hours, featured numerous public comments - mostly in support of the bill - and debate over the economic impacts of taking away the commercial logging mandate on Jackson Demonstration State Forest. Ultimately, despite resistance from Supervisors Cline and Norvell, the Board voted to send a letter in support of AB 2494. 

State Demonstration Forests span 85,000 acres across California and are intended to showcase best practices in forestry. However, current management approaches have not consistently incorporated the latest science on climate change, wildfire risk reduction, and ecological restoration—instead leading to harvesting large, second-growth forests, constructing new roads, and allowing clearcuts to occur on the forests. AB 2494 would update the mission of these forests to demonstrate modern conservation values, while allowing timber harvest where it aligns with the new definition of management. It would also provide a pathway to transitioning rural economic reliance on the timber industry to restoration and ecotourism. 

The bill has garnered support from a broad coalition of environmental organizations, 10 local tribal governments, scientists, recreation groups, local businesses, and community advocates who recognize the urgent need to transition toward more sustainable forest stewardship. The petition in support of the bill includes over 1000 signatures in support. 

“The bill aligns forest practices with the state’s 30x30 goals for environmental protection and reducing climate risk by protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030,” added Evan Mills, a Climate Scientist who supports the proposed legislation. “An average of 4,000 logging trucks exit state forests annually, representing an ongoing heavy loss of carbon. AB 2494 would instead maximize durable carbon storage by promoting, retaining, and nurturing large trees and shaping a forest that is more resilient to the ravages of climate change.”

With its successful passage out of committee, AB 2494 now advances to the next stage of the legislative process — the Assembly Appropriations Committee. EPIC and its partners will continue to work closely with lawmakers, grassroots allies, tribal advocates, and the public to secure its passage into law.