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18,825 acres of what's called residual old growth. These are the trees the previous 

 management had left behind. These stands contained from four to ten old growth trees 

 per acre with trees up to 12 feet in diameter. Because these residual stands are 

 running out, the company has turned more and more to logging the second growth 

 trees, ranging in age from 60 to 100 years old. 



Humboldt County is the only area left in the ecosystem which still retains some 

 of the original character of the redwood region. Headwaters lies between two areas of 

 existing redwood park land. It provides a crucial link between them. Some will 

 suggest that only the largest uncut, virgin island of 3000 acres should be protected. I 

 would suggest to you that we need more than a tree museum here. We need a 

 functioning redwood forest, one that maintains the existing old growth and also 

 maintains the younger, but still significant 60-100 year old trees as well. It is only a 

 matter of time until that second growth forest is also gone throughout the region, as it 

 is already in Mendocino County. 



Without the Headwaters Forest Act it is only a matter of time until the world 

 famous redwood ecosystem will be reduced to just another landscape of short, bushy 

 green conifers with lots of deer, raccoons and skunks, but not much else in the way of 

 wildlife. My children, born and raised in Mendocino County's redwood country, did 

 not believe that coast redwoods are the world's tallest trees until we drove them three 

 hours north to Humboldt Redwoods State Park. 



We can't go back, but we can make some guesses about the future. The 

 Headwaters Forest Act may well be our last chance to maintain this part of our 

 country's original natural heritage. I believe future generations will thank you for your 

 help in maintaining this wondrous part of our world. 



(Attachments follow;) 



