April 19th 2001

Submitted by Pacific Forest Trust
Mendocino Beacon
April 19, 2001

On April 7, residents of Comptche and employees of Mendocino Redwood Co., and the Pacific Forest Trust met to celebrate the completion of a long journey to protect Comptche Hill Forest. Now thanks to an easement donated by the Mendocino Redwood Co. to the Pacific Forest Trust, 90 acres of mature redwood and Douglas-fir forest that form the scenic backdrop to this small community in southwestem Mendocino County will be protected forever.

"Today represents the fulfillment of a community's dream and the commitment of Mendocino Redwood Co. to that community," said Laurie Wayburn, president of PFT. "We are pleased to have played a role in this partnership to ensure the protection of Comptche Hill."

Judy Garratt, a Comptche resident and executive director of the Comptche Land Conservancy, and other local residents have been seeking formal protection of the forestland above their town since 1987.

"Our approach from the beginning was to seek to work together with each other, and with the corporate landowner, as neighbors. We tried to include everyone, and we worked hard to keep an open heart," said Garratt.

And the result, this easement that we are here to dedicate today, has been a gift of such great kindness and generosity that words cannot express our gratitude and our awe."

In recognition of the hard work and determination of the Comptche community, PFT and MRC dedicated a redwood grove on the easement to the community with a plaque reading: "The Judy and John Garratt Grove. In honor of all who fought so hard for the protection of Comptche Hill."

Sandy Dean, chairman of MRC, speaking in Comptche, noted that "the interactions with all involved in the project have been among the most productive MRC has had in the county."

The forest lies along the Albion River, an important salmon stream that drains directly into the Pacific. It has not been logged since the early 1900's and contains large diameter, second growth redwood and Douglas-fir as well as scattered old growth components.

The easement ensures full protection of the forest; under the terms of the easement virtually no timber harvest is allowed and development is prohibited. The easement stays with the property regardless of the property's owner. MRC's decision to grant the easement, therefore, ensures the land is protected forever. The Pacific Forest Trust, partnering with the Comptche Land Conservancy, first began work on the easement seven years ago.

PFT is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving private productive forests. Founded in 1993, PFT has a staff of 14 and maintains offices in Santa Rosa and Boonville, and in Seattle, Wash.