October 2000
Dear Council Members,
I am a co-owner of about 1,000 acres of Mendocino Timberland, and am a member of the Professional Foresters' Examining Committee, (PFEC), the entity which holds exams for foresters applying to be licensed, and hears complaints against foresters for the Board of Forestry.
I am familiar with the operations of the Mendocino Redwood Company, both in Sonoma and in Mendocino Counties.
Some years ago I was on the ad hoc committee interviewing applicants for Executive Officer of the PFEC, when MRC's [present chief forester, Mike Jani was an applicant. The Board of Forestry Executive Officer and I both voted against Mr. Jani-because we knew he was * too good * the timber industry would have had his scalp in a matter of months.
I have done two THPs and have another approved. For obvious reasons I am much concerned about the decline of mills and woods jobs in Mendocino County. It is my hope that MRC can make survival of a forestry-based economy in Mendocino County possible. They are he only ones likely to do so, *and if they can't do it, it won't happen*, and loggers and mill workers can learn how to sell postcards to tourists.
The MRC total cut is even below the sainted 2 POI so enthusiastically embraced some years ago by the broad-based group studying forestry issues for the county, but turned down by the Board of Forestry. True, this is not based on watershed by watershed controls, and those who think no trees should be cut in *their * own watershed be satisfied. But while they may be the nosiest of residents, they are by no means the Voice of the Public.
Trees will continue to be cut, we have to IMPORT timber and I believe it is best for all if the cutting is done by those who are open about their plans, and do as well as MRC.
MRC is not perfect, but when they bid on the former Louisiana Pacific lands, the other bidders, I understand, were the Campbell Hawthorne group, and Sierra Pacific Industries, SPI has now been the cause of public support for an initiative outlawing clearcutting because of its plan to clearcut a million (I think that's the figure) acres. We know what the Campbell group is doing as far as their THPs go, and they are awful, though as you know they will not share other information that is freely provided by MRC.
I consider Mendocino County had a narrow escape, and we should all be thankful that MRC is here and willing to follow the kind of practices that Mr. Jani and his staff follow.
Sincerely,
Helen Libeu
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