Our forests are in danger.
The City of Oakland has released the draft of an environmentally catastrophic plan to chop down hundreds of thousands of healthy trees across 1,925 acres of public lands and 308 miles of roadway and to give city officials the unlimited discretion to clear cut any trees or forests they choose without public approval.
It is a costly, destructive, and radical public land transformation that is predicated on the extensive use of herbicides and which will increase both the risk and severity of fire, imperiling public health and safety. And it will result in a whole host of additional and unavoidable harms including exacerbating climate change, destroying animal habitat, negatively impacting local businesses and property values, eroding community character, increasing the threat of landslides, and ruining the quiet enjoyment of people’s properties. Eventually, as a result of the impact of climate change and Sudden Oak Death Syndrome to which all oak trees are predicted to succumb, it will result in public lands that are barren and treeless.
Moreover, the Draft Vegetation Management Plan (DVMP) ignores the results of the city’s own survey which revealed that the public was against the use of herbicides and the destruction of healthy trees. In fact, Horizon, the consulting company which created the plan, refused to meet with citizens who opposed broadscale tree removal and pesticide use beyond cursory public meetings, while providing private access to those who supported them. As such, it is undemocratic and was designed to achieve a predetermined conclusion unrelated to its stated goals or the will of Oakland citizens. In that regard, it is also unlawful.
To save our beautiful forests and the iconic local character, stunning vistas, shady hiking trails, and animal habitat they create, tell Mayor Libby Schaaf, the City Council, the Oakland Fire Department, and other city officials to reject the DVMP.
Read our opposition by clicking here.
Sign the petition.
NOTE: After you sign this petition, Change.org will ask you for a donation. This money does NOT go to us. If you would like to donate to our efforts, you can do so instead at saveeastbayhills.org in the Take Action page.
