232 



merely bargained across the table by laymen with little or no 

 knowledge o-f the conditions necessary to preoetuate the Broves. 

 In +act no one knows what the Giant Sequoias reauire over the 

 long run. 



We do know the Sroves have migrated in the past -from studies 

 done on cores taken -from nearby meadows. Perhaps this happened m 

 response to climatic change. A Symposium on Giant Sequoias held 

 in 1992 in Visalia Caii-fornia showed how little we know about 

 them. Concern has been expressed about disturbance to soils -from 

 logging and road building above the Groves. Even the Forest 

 Service aarees we do not know nearly enough to manage the Groves 

 ■for permanent protection. 



1-f enacted HR-2153 would protect the Groves and their surround- 

 ing -forests -from the e-f-fects ot intensive management and logging. 

 The Forest Service continues to o+ter timoer sales in the vicini- 

 ty ot the Groves. They have told me many times in the past the 

 Graves would be protected and yet look what happened: clear 

 cutting in and around the Groves. They now admit that was a 

 mistake. Now it is claimed that a 500 -ft no entry buf-fer will 

 protect them. The fact is no one knows what must be done to 

 protect them permanently. 



HR-2153 would prevent roadbuilding and logging in that part of 

 the Forest where the Groves s.re -found and provide f-or the scien- 

 tific study necessary for their long term well being. Congress 

 must pass HR-2153 and direct the management of the Forest where 

 the Giant Sequoias are found to prevent a repeat of the mistakes 

 of the past. 



Joe Fontaine 

 (Attachment follows:) 



