Honorable Supervisors,

I am writing to request that you send a letter of support for AB 2494 on behalf of the Board of Supervisors for Mendocino County.  My name is John Risk, and I am a Mendocino local for the past three years. I am on the Board of Trustees of a charitable non-profit community land trust, which operates a large organic garden, practices carbon sequestration, and provides food security for our many volunteers and our local food bank. I am also a senior citizen soon to turn 70 years of age in May.

According to Mendocino County’s legislative platform, the county aims to "support policies to advance tribal stewardship, ecological restoration, and outdoor access at State Demonstration Forests." Given that AB 2494 aligns directly with these stated goals, I believe a formal letter of support from your office is a necessary step in advancing these priorities.

For several years the Mendocino community has urged CAL FIRE to adopt a management approach that centers tribal co-management, biodiversity, climate mitigation and resiliency, and outdoor access as opposed to profit-driven logging. This bill provides a clear pathway to providing a much needed update to the framework of management for all Demonstration State Forests. AB 2494 would also provide a stable source of funding for CAL FIRE’s Demonstration Forest operations through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund and allow lands to count towards California’s 30x30 conservation goals. Finally, the bill would stimulate rural economic development by increasing tourism through enhanced recreation opportunities (especially hiking and cycling on forest trails) and increased restoration projects.

This is a bill with great support from many of us living on the Mendocino Coast. I hope you can join us in support of this bill by submitting your letter of support.