Concerns Raised with AB 2494 and Demonstration Forest Management
Published March 13, 2026
Assembly Bill 2494 would redirect revenue generated from forest products and recreation away from the Forest Resources Improvement Fund, where it currently supports demonstration forest operations, and into a broader statewide fund. This change could create uncertainty for forest management, research programs, infrastructure and wildfire mitigation work that these forests rely on to remain largely self-sustaining.
The bill would also significantly restrict timber harvest and silvicultural tools that are central to the research mission of demonstration forests. Sites such as Jackson Demonstration State Forest have long served as living laboratories for redwood ecology and climate resilience research, conducted in partnership with institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, and UC Cooperative Extension.
In addition, decades of research show that active forest management helps reduce wildfire risk and supports long-term carbon storage. Studies from Blodgett Forest and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pacific Southwest Research Station demonstrate that thinning and sustainable harvest reduce fuel loads and prevent catastrophic fires, while responsibly harvested wood products continue to store carbon.
Taken together, these changes could undermine both the financial stability and scientific mission of California’s demonstration forest system.
Staff contact: Peter Ansel, pansel@cfbf.com.
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