PL Files Bankruptcy, North Fork Mattole Faces Uncertain Future.

Regardless of what happens in the wake of Pacific Lumber's bankruptcy, Mattole Wildlands Defenders will continue to stay vigilant until the land, forest, streams and threatened species of the North Forks are guaranteed long-term protection.

Some possible scenarios of what may come are;

1. A bankruptcy Judge directs company operations.
2. The land is sold to developers or another logging company and faces further environmental damage.
3. The land is sold to conservationists and protected.

Even if the land is sold, the HCP rules will continue to apply. This includes mandated seasonal surveys for rare, threatened and endangered species. This also includes the results of the Watershed Analysis and the new rules for streamside logging that PL is expected to request this summer. The proposed new rules will likely allow logging closer to creeks in PL's holdings in Bear River and the Mattole. This would unlock large areas of Oldgrowth Douglas Fir in and around watercourse zones. Approximately 2,000 acres of rare Upland Oldgrowth Douglas Fir exist in this remote and rugged region.