The California State Parks Department sidestepped the law and used exemptions that were not warranted to strip and masticate unique 1,300 acres of southern California mixed conifer and oak forest. They are just getting started. CA State Parks plans on changing the natural character of our forested parklands because they can make more money on carbon offsets from large corporations by creating unnatural and highly flammable tree farms. On February 4, 2015, this stripped area was burned with a prescribed fire to create such a farm. The natural habitat has been destroyed and the area is now vulnerable to erosion and the invasion of flammable, exotic grasses and weeds.

There is still time to save the remaining 1,200 acres.

This precious land was deeded by the owners to the CA State Parks Department so it would be protected, and now its recovery is seriously compromised. CA State park written policy after a wildfire is to allow nature to take charge of re-growth. This has not been done. Many Californians enjoyed hiking in this region and enjoyed the mixed chaparral, oak and conifer forest blanketed by the white blooms of wild lilac (Ceanothus palmeri) in the spring. 

It is not too late to help Cuyamaca and other California forested parklands. Please sign this petition to stop the continued destruction of this precious and loved part of wild California.

For the complete details on what is happening at Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, please see the following webpage:

http://www.californiachaparral.org/threatstochaparral/elossincuyamaca.html   Please sign this and share it.