Working to keep California forests, wildlife, water and air healthy, beautiful and productive.
Calforests For All
Healthy forests provide the state with clean water and air, thriving wildlife habitats and sustainable locally grown wood products. Maintaining the forests is an economic driver in many areas and is the best way to safeguard communities from catastrophic wildfire. We are dedicated to working with our members and the industry to continue our commitment in promoting high environmental standards and thriving forest practices in the wood products sector. Calforests is proud to serve as a central voice for California’s forest-resource companies and communities.
Calforests White Paper: Fire Prevention and Forest Management Key Initiatives – Spring 2020
Covid-19 and its impact on California has naturally shifted statewide priorities. Public health and the economic impacts of Coronavirus appropriately demand our attention. The challenge for California will be the management of other imperatives including education, infrastructure, and wildfire prevention. Maintaining our current efforts in forest health while considering enhancements will be critical. The California Forestry Association respectfully suggests that the following short list be considered as key initiatives during this time. Read the white paper here.
Who We Are
Calforests is the premier advocacy organization representing the forestry sector in California. Our diverse membership landowners, loggers, registered professional foresters, wholesalers, retailers, wood products manufacturers, and others who are interested in responsible forest policy in California. Association members are given the opportunity to stay abreast of important issues facing the forestry sector and to take an active role in protecting and enhancing California’s forests through advocacy.
Stay Ahead of the Game
Calforests acts as your eyes, ears and voice on issues affecting forestry in California. While you are at work doing what you do best, state and federal legislative bodies and regulatory agencies have the power to make changes that could affect the way forests are managed in our state. Calforests membership ensures your interests will be represented when these decisions are made by listening to your concerns and advocating on your behalf.
Advocacy
Legislative Affairs
Our advocates work to promote legislation that protects and furthers the operational and economic interests of the forest products industry. From sponsoring legislation that enhances the viability of the forest products industry to defeating legislation that seeks to harm it, advocacy is the single most critical tool we employ on behalf of our members. On a daily basis, our advocates work closely with the Governor’s Office, State Legislators and their staff, and state agencies and departments to achieve the association’s policy goals.
Regulatory Affairs
State agencies, boards, and commissions – which include the California Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agencies, the Department and Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife – maintain a substantial degree of control over the rules and regulations governing the forest products industry and our specialists work with them to ensure the industry’s voice is heard and concerns are addressed.
Public Resources
California is home to 33 million acres of forestlands, but 19 million – of nearly 60% – of those lands fall under the purview of federal agencies, including the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. As such, our public resources staff coordinates forest management efforts and works collaboratively with the federal government on policy issues that arise.
