200 Year Moratorium on the Harvest and sale of Coast Redwood and products derived from same

Whereas, a great redwood rainforest once covered the west coast, from southern Oregon to midcoastal California, and about 40 miles inland;

Whereas, less than 4% of this great rainforest remains today;

Whereas, the coast redwood environment is a essential to a great number of endangered species, including the spotted owl and several species of fish;

Whereas, the continued decimation of this environment has led to a noticeable change in the climate of the north coast of California, and therefore must also be contributing to global warming as a whole;

Whereas, towns and villages near areas where clear-cutting has been done are now endangered by flooding, mudslides, and the pollution of delicate watersheds;

Whereas, the lumber from coast redwoods is not a necessary commodity, but one easily replaced by other types of lumber or building materials;

We therefore petition the governments of the United States and the State of California to pass a law declaring a 200-year moratorium prohibiting the harvest, sale and export of all coast redwoods (Sequoia Sempervirons) and of all products made from coast redwoods. Such moratorium will preserve the existing ecosystem of the coast redwood, preserve the existing old growth trees, and allow younger trees a chance to become old growth, thus giving the great redwood rainforest a chance to reestablish itself for future generations and for the health of the planet.