201 



and a 75% reduction in the silvicultural practice of clear-cutting. 



Realizing that there will always be conflicting view points in regards to managing the 

 natural resources of federal lands, I feel that through the efforts of the mediation group a 

 true balance has been found. This agreement should be allowed to proceed and not be 

 destroyed by this Bill. 



The outcome of the mediation has inspired other groups in California and Oregon 

 to try to reach a consensus in their local areas. This is also the concept of consensus 

 building that President Qinton urged at the Timber Summit last year in Portland. 



Our country is at a crossroad in many areas of key policy making decisions. This bill 

 directly effects three of these key areas; natxu-al resource management, our nations economy 

 and the national budget 



Ths current direction in resource management, based on much scientific study, is 

 ecosystem management This involves managing large landscapes for biodiversity of all the 

 plant and animal species. This bill proposes to do the exact opposite and if passed will 

 prove to be disastrous for both forest health, wildlife habitat, and the economy. 



The Sequoia National Forest is facing a potential forest fire crises as are many areas 

 in The Sierra Nevada. As recently as 199G the Stormy Fire Complex burned approximately 

 24,000 acres on the Sequoia. The catastrophic fires in Southern California and the Oakland 

 Hills are other recent dynamic examples. 



Before the influence of the white settlers, forest vegetation was managed by nature 

 and the Native Americans with fire. 



Fire was a frequent visitor to the forest. These fires, ustially of low intensity, thinned 

 the forests and reduced the density of shrub and brush. 



The forests of a century ago were much more open and park like. It's a fact that we 

 have more trees now than 100 years ago. Early photographs and accounts of pioneers 

 document this point 



Today our forests are much more dense. Insect outbreaks are prevalent and even on 

 a casual tour of the forest one can see evidence of declining forest health. Our dedicated 

 efforts to eliminate catastrophic fire have helped society, but to the detriment of forest 

 health. The fuel loading, or amount of dead forest material, has now reached a very 

 threatening level. 



One buzz word today is "Vegetative management". If catastrophic fires are not an 

 acceptable management tool, and I believe they are not, mechanical measures need to be 

 implemented. To simply "lock up" our forests is not scientifically sound nor is it in the best 



