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forest has a remarkable ability to regenerate itself. In tfie destruction 

 caused by the logging of the sequoias around 1910, it appeared that the 

 forest had been damaged forever. 



In fact, nearly one-third of the sequoias were cut down at that time. 

 Since then, approximately 80 years later, those areas have experienced 

 abundant regeneration. Tragically, the large monarchs are gone for 

 ever, yet the "natural ecosystem" remains intact even after very poor 

 timber practices. It has renewed, not in tens of thousands of years, nor 

 centuries. Natural regeneration began with the next season's rain. 



It should also be mentioned that one of the most useful tools for the 

 proper management of forest ecosystems is timber management 

 (logging). Logging assists in the removal of excessive fuel loads, and 

 in the development of new seed beds for both natural and artificial 

 regeneration. 



Sec 2 (10) 



"The policy of the United States Forest Service has been to 

 encourage logging of ancient forest habitats, including that of the 

 Giant Sequoias." 



Property stated, it is the policy of the U.S. Forest Service to manage the 

 forest, all the forest, including ancient forest habitats and giant sequoia 

 habitat. The process of forest management is not unlike pruning one's 

 roses. For a healthier plant you choose to do some selective pruning; to 

 maintain a healthier garden you may plant many seeds but you thin them 

 out so the strongest go on to thrive. You also remove any competition 

 from weeds or other plants. 



Proper management of a forest is a very complex issue. There are 

 literally thousands of species throughout the Sierra Nevada mountain 

 • range. Part of management includes maintaining optimum habitat for as 

 many species as possible, with special attention paid to certain species. 

 The giant sequoia, for example, cannot compete with more abundant and 

 faster growing "white woods." To encourage natural regeneration among 

 the sequoias, the Forest Service did encourage logging in and near 

 sequoia groves to enhance the groves and to' provide an environment 

 that was beneficial to the Sequoia. 



There are other arguments tied into fuel loads and timber removal that 

 are better answered by scientists (see Libby, Bonnicksen, Gasser, Piirto, 

 Swetnam, etc.). The main point here, is to say that when the "Forest 

 Service encouraged logging in giant sequoia groves" makes it sound 

 like they were cutting down the monarchs. That is untrue. 



11 



