September 15, 2000
Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10036
To the Editor:
A recent ad in the New York Times used a quote attributable to me to support criticism of the Fisher Family and Mendocino Redwood Company. The quote was unauthorized and taken out of context. If I had been asked, this is what I would have said about Mendocino Redwood Company:
"Mendocino Redwood Company ("MRC") has publicly stated it is in for the long term management of the the newly acquired cutover redwood lands owned previously by Louisiana Pacific Corporation. MRC has established and made public a long term management plan that reflects its management vision of restoring the redwood forest.
MRC has instituted a lower overall level of harvest and a long term transition to uneven aged management to encourage regeneration and bring those lands back to a sustainable yield.
MRC has actively sought to achieve Forest Stewardship Council Certification. This is the toughest independent third party standard for forestry management that exists. On the basis of the steps they have taken to date, I believe they have a very good chance of achieving this much sought after recognition."
For those that wish certain tracts of Old Growth trees to be set aside permanently, funds should be raised to make an outright purchase of these trees at market value.
The option to having Mendocino Redwood company not achieve its long term goal is to see one of the largest growing areas of redwood forests subjected to fragmentation, lot splits and excessive road building in Mendocino County.
People working together with forward thinking companies like Mendocino Redwood Company is what will save the redwood forest.
Very truly yours,
Richard A. Wilson
CDF Director Retired
Link to New York Times ad
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