In Los Padres National Forest, giant century-old trees rise above the surrounding chaparral vegetation in a series of “sky islands.” These forested mountaintops provide important wildlife habitat and unique places for people to visit.
One of our first victories came in 2005 after we sounded the alarm on plans to remove large old-growth trees from Figueroa Mountain, Frazier Mountain, Pine Mountain, Mount Pinos and Cerro Noroeste. Initially, forest officials tried to fast-track these projects via commercial timber sales. But ForestWatch convinced them to prepare detailed environmental studies before moving forward. Those studies prompted the Forest Service to leave large-diameter trees standing, without commercial logging. Three logging projects were cancelled entirely, and the remaining projects were completed in a way that kept these forests intact.
ForestWatch secured a precedent-setting courtroom victory in 2008, protecting Grade Valley and Alamo Mountain in northern Ventura County from a salvage logging project. After a wildfire passed through the area, timber companies planned to bring heavy equipment to remove “dead and dying” trees from this fragile burn area. The U.S. Forest Service approved the plan without first preparing a standard environmental assessment. Many trees targeted for removal were still alive and recovering from the effects of wildfire.
After arguing our case in U.S. District Court, the judge ruled in favor of the forest, allowing the area to heal without further damage caused by logging equipment. The case—Los Padres ForestWatch v. U.S. Forest Service—continues to serve as important caselaw for protecting post-fire landscapes. This campaign was recognized as one of southern California’s top five environmental achievements.
Currently, ForestWatch is working to protect forests across Tecuya Ridge, Cuddy Valley, Pine Mountain, and Mt. Pinos. The U.S. Forest Service and commercial timber interests have targeted these areas for logging.
