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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-115IZesolution Whereas, the Sierra Ne~ada Region is California's principal watershed and the arigir~ of 65 percent of the state's de~eioped water supply; serves as on~ of the state's premiere recreation and tourism destinations for more than 50 millior~ visifor days each year; provides between one-third and one-haif of the state's an~ual timber harvest; ~roduces nearly three-quarters of the state's hydroelectric power; is home to two-thirds of the state's bird and mammal species, haif of the state`s plant species, and more than 600,000 humans; Whereas, much of the S~erra Nevada forestiands are in an ecologically unheal#hy condition, ir~cluding public lands managec! by #he federal govert~menf; Whereas, while fire is ar~ irrzportant part of the ecosystem and can ha~a a positi~e ecological impact, large damaging fires in the Sierra Nevada can result in a wide ~ariety of negati~e impacts including loss of life and property, adverse human hea~th impacts ~ra~n poor air quality, reduced recreafional and tourism opportunities and other significant ecflnomic impacts; habitat; Whereas, large damaging fires result in clegraded water and air quality, and altered wildlife Whereas, many Sierra Nevada forests are showing signs of declining biodiversity; Whereas, large damaging fires result in reducecf amounts of carbon stored in the forests and cause significant emissions of greenhouse gases; Whereas, projected increases in temperatures due to a changing clirnate cam~ined with the unhealthy condition of portions of the for~st will likely resul# in larger, more frequen# and more damaging fires in the future; ~ Whereas, iar~d rnanagemant agencies, Fire Safe Councils and other entities are engaged in ongoing efforts to reduce the risk of large damaging fir~s with many efforts focused an the urban wildland interface, the need far additional in~estment for these fypes of.acti~ity is evident; Whereas, rnany Sierra communities continue to struggle with economic vitality and sustainability' e~en beyand the current national economic canditions, with unemployment rates in many Sierra counties significantEy higher than the natianal and sta~e's a~erage; Whereas, traditionaf economic acti~ity related to waod praducts has ~een in clecline in recent _ decades signaling a need to di~ersify local ecanomies by protecting ~xisting in#rastructure while promoting new economic apportunities at the appropriate scaie; Whereas, the State of California has establish~c~ aggressi~e goafs to increase the amount of energy supplied from renewable sources, including biamass energy; RESOLIJTION APPROVING THE SIERRA NEVADA FOREST AND COMMUNITY INiTIATIV~ Wh~reas, sustainabEe forest stewardship car~ ~esult in improved ecological health of fores#s, including sufficient habitat cor~ditinns, increased carbon storage; continued recreational use and high water qua[ity; Whereas, sustainable forest management can result ir~ a reliable su~pEy af biomass that could be conver~ed to rer~ewabfe energy in a sustainable rnanner, as well as a variety af wood products, including dimensiona[ lumber and "value added" products, creating an opportur~ity for lacally based economically sustainable jobs: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOVLED that the Baard of Sup~rvisors dec[ar~s its ir~tent to work collaboratively, constructively and in a transparent manner, with sta~e and federal agencies, loca[ artd #ribal governments, the er~vironmentallconservation community and, the private sector, to improve the environmenfal, economic and social w~N-being of the Sierra Nevada Region by: • Identifying, supporting, and implementing actions that wiEl reduce the risk of large damaging fires in our foresfs and wildlands and in aur communities; • Identifying, supporting, and implernenting actions that will resul~ in ecologically healfhy forests and watersheds, protectir~g habitat and species, water supply and water and air quality, and the long-term sequestration of carbon in plants and soil; • Identifyir~g, supparting, and implemen#ing actians that will create ecologically and econamically sustainable local jobs and ecanomic activity res~lfing directly and indirect[y frorn sustainable farest stewardship activities, including but nat limited to, biomass energy, biof~els, "~a[ue added" wood products, dimensianal wood products, other commercial woad praducts and the acti~ities r~ecessary to produce these products; + Iden#ifying, supporting, and implementing ac~ions that will resu~t ir~ protection and restoration of plant and wildlife habitat through Encreased resiliency, diversity and species campasition post treatment, • Ic[entifying, supporting, and imp[ementing pQlicies, inrrestment and technica~ suPport that wil[ assist in achieving these abjectives; • ldentifying, supportirtg, and appfying currerrt research and science to assist in achieving these objectives. PA55ED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 10'h day af August, 2010 by the fallowing ~ote: AY~S: Supervisors NOES: None NOT VOTING: None ABSENT: None ATTEST: Scott T Inferim Cferk a Dol~.n, Kirk, Lambert, Yamaguchi, and Chair Connelly ~ 4° BILL CONNELLY, Chai tive Officer a pervisors / By