Improving the health of California’s headwater forests
This report assesses and analyses the current management of California's headwater forests. It concludes that California needs to increase the pace and scale of efforts to improve the health of its headwater forests—the source of two-thirds of the state’s surface water supply. The strategic removal of high-density smaller trees and fuels is essential to increasing long-term resilience of headwater forests. This will require management, regulatory, and legal reforms. The report suggests changes in three areas:
- Make long-term forest health the top priority for guiding agency rules, policy, and management practices.
- Define forest treatment needs and make the most of available funds.
- Make greater use of tools that create opportunities for collaboration.
Within each of these broad themes, the report suggests specific reforms and actions to implement them. Many of these actions can take place without major legislation or large increases in funding, relying instead on changes in rules or administrative decisions.
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