Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
tax revenues are used for the forest management and maintenance activities.
Nonetheless, maintaining sufficient funds for proper management of the forest is a
challenge for the city during periods of poor market conditions for timber. This can be
minimized somewhat by attempting to synchronize timber harvests with market peaks
and developing a reserve account for the forest that cannot be used for other purposes.
Additionally, the regulatory environment for forestry and restoration in California is a
particularly burdensome process, even for management systems such as Arcata's rela-
tively light-touch harvest regime. More often than not, responding to a multiagency
permitting process diverts resources that would otherwise be directed toward restora-
tion, recreation, or monitoring efforts. Many people involved in forestry in California,
from industrial timberland managers to environmental groups, recognize that this
problem is especially onerous for small forest landowners and community-based
forestry programs.
By expanding the community forest and developing a regional trail system, in-
creased tourism and use of the forest as a recreational asset will provide local eco-
nomic benefits. The city has planned a four-mile-long trail that will connect several
scattered tracts and be a regional asset. With the increased demand for green build-
ing services, there is a market opportunity for the development of local branding of
the sustainably certified lumber produced from the forest. This would allow for
consumers to purchase locally grown and milled lumber from local small businesses
(fig. 8.4).
FIGURE 8.4.
Locally available lumber from the Arcata Community Forest is certified, giving
it more market value.
