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learn about the hydrologic effects, the climatic effects, the 

 whole life support system that is the ancient redwood forest of 

 the Pacific northwest. 



Even if we are far from a thorough understanding, we can no 

 longer plead blind' ignorance. We )cnow that these forests are 

 finite. We know that when they are cut, there inevitably will be 

 job loss unless the industry invests in re-manufacturing. The 

 guestion is not whether jobs harvesting and milling old gro*rth 

 redwood will be lost, but when and whether the few irreplaceable 

 ancient forests will be standing or gone forever. 



We Icnow also, that in the largest sense, we are not separate 

 from these forests. We too are part of the ecosystem. 

 Undoubtedly, we gain when these giant trees cohabit the planet 

 with us. We can pretend the problem just doesn't exist. Or we 

 can deal responsibly and creatively with the problem of the 

 decline of our ancient forests, as this bill seeks to do, and be 

 much richer in the long run. 



