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sale program while degrading the forest's watersheds and diminishing its attractive- 

 ness to recreationists. In this era of fiscal constraints, operating such a money loosing 

 timber sales program makes no sense, financially or socially. 



Mr. Chairman, The Wilderness Society recommends improving H.R. 2153 with 

 amendments in several areas. Adoption of these amendments are important if the 

 legislation is to achieve its laudable goal of permanently protecting the ancient forests 

 of the southern Sierra Nevada. 



1 . Ancient Forest Additions: TWS recommends that three areas be added to the 

 Preserve. Though these areas do not include Giant Sequoia trees, all three contain 

 ecologically significant ancient forest ecosystems worthy of protection. They encom- 

 pass primarily pine and mixed conifer species and are known as the Woodpecker, 

 Rincon, and Piute areas. We have included maps of these areas with this testimony. 



Amongst their many attributes, the Woodpecker and Rincon contain important 

 sensitive Sierran wildlife species including fisher, wolverine. Sierra Nevada red fox, and 

 the Little Kern Golden Trout, the latter which is considered a threatened species under 

 the California Endangered Species Act. In addition to their important ecological roles, 

 these ancient forest areas provide important recreational resources which are experi- 

 encing increasing demand from the populous southern California region. 



The proposed Piute addition contains the only remaining ancient forest in the 

 Piute Mountains, the most southern portion of the Sequoia National Forest and the 

 entire Sierra Nevada range. Because of its geographical location, the ancient forest of 

 the Piutes is critical in maintaining a biological connection with the Tehachapis and the 

 adjacent Coast range for species such as the California spotted owl, which is also 

 found in the Piutes. The area is home to the largest population of the narrowly 

 endemic Piute Cypress, which grow only in the southern Sequoia National Forest 

 region. 



2. Wilderness Addition: The Wilderness Society recommends that H.R. 2153 be 

 amended to incorporate the North Moses area into the National Wilderness Preserva- 

 tion System as an addition to the Golden Trout Wilderness. The designation of this 

 Wilderness area was agreed to in the Sequoia Mediated Settlement Agreement and 

 only awaits Congressional action to create the most complete protection possible - 

 designation as Wilderness. Mr. Chairman, TWS would be happy to work with you to 

 draft language for this amendment. 



3. Further Study: Like the Sequoia, the Sierra National Forest includes many ecologi- 

 cally significant ancient forest stands interspersed within and between Giant Sequoia 

 groves. TTie Stanislaus, Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests also are home to 

 ancient forest, some of it giant Sequoia trees, though the farther north one travels in 

 the Sierra Nevada, the fewer Giant Sequoia one finds. TWS recommends that 

 subsection 7(b) of H.R. 2153 be amended to instruct the Forest Service to provide an 

 inventory of all ancient forest, including species other than Giant Sequoia, on the other 

 national forests of the central and southern Sierra Nevada within one year of the date 



J 



