Forest Management
State Demonstration Forests
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) operates nine Demonstration State Forests totaling approximately 72,000 acres. The forests represent the most common forest types in the state. The Demonstration State Forests show how forests can be managed for multiple objectives on multiple levels. Looking landscape wide, these forests demonstrate how harvests and growth can be balanced over a century to maintain optimally stocked forests, a key measure of sustainability. Demonstrations on a finer scale include new watershed restoration techniques being tested, and fundamental science research taking place that enables students, visitors and private forest landowners to learn about forest management and forest ecosystems. What we learn is essential to better manage our dynamic forests through time.
Why do these forests matter?
Climate change is bringing fundamental differences to the size, severity, and impact of wildfire, and accordingly, on the importance of updated forest health and resilience science. This is a paramount reason for establishing a new polytechnic university in Cal Poly Humboldt. The Demonstration State Forests provide a unique set of circumstances for testing a variety of forest treatments through time, and forests in the system like Jackson are ideally situated close to Cal Poly Humboldt. The experiments and research conducted in the Demonstration State Forests helps inform management practices for government, nonprofit and private forestland owners. Private forestland ownerships comprise 40% of California’s forestland and are key to sustaining forests for all California.
Research and Demonstration
The State Demonstration Forests provide research and demonstration opportunities for a variety of natural resource management objectives including sustainable timber production, public recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and watershed protection. CAL FIRE research grantees, foresters and environmental scientists conduct ongoing projects to learn more about the effectiveness of forest management practices. The State Forests demonstrate how a forest can be managed for multiple goals and objectives at once.
Recreation
The state forests are managed for multiple-use objectives, and recreation is a priority. Common recreation activities include, camping, hiking, biking, mushroom hunting, fishing, hunting, horseback riding. Recreation opportunities on State Forests are offered for free or are low cost compared to other public recreation. Community partnerships and volunteer support are vital to our efforts to provide high quality recreation opportunities.
Sustainable Timber Production
The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) policy provides that the State Forests shall be used for experimentation to determine the economic feasibility of artificial reforestation, and to demonstrate the productive and economic possibilities of good forest practices toward maintaining forest crop land in a productive condition. The management objectives and plans developed for each State Forest are subject to periodic review and approval by the Board. Jackson has its own Advisory Group that includes additional stakeholder input. The State Forests grow approximately 75 million board feet of timber annually and harvest an average of 20 million board feet each year, enough to build 12,500 single-family homes.
Here is a list of the State Demonstration Forests, which are open to the public except for Las Posadas and Ellen Pickett which are not open to the public.
.svg.png?cacheid=0.9616018850896426)
