Exciting News Regarding Artesa Court Case on Conversion of Forests in Sonom County

We have exciting news from the court case regarding the Spanish owned Artesa winery trying to convert forestland into vineyards in northwest Sonoma County. There has been a favorable court finding protecting forestlands from conversion. Read below for details.

If you have not signed the online petition against this action, I have provided a link for you to do so. The favorable court finding does not preclude Artesa from continuing to pursue other avenues so continued public pressure is still needed. Thank you for your continued efforts on protecting our forests and watersheds in Sonoma County.

Larry Hanson, Board President
Forest Unlimited

Hello

We have another major milestone to report for the redwood deforestation for vineyards saga, following last year’s transformation of Preservation Ranch mega-vineyard project into a consolidated conservation forestry landscape in northwest Sonoma County.

The attached media release reports Sonoma County Superior Court’s decision on the flawed environmental impact report (EIR) for the Artesa vineyard conversion project (an older precedent-setting permit in the works for over a decade), confirming the inadequacy of the EIR prepared by CAL FIRE.

Artesa’s project is the only current pending permit in California allowing redwood deforestation for vineyard development. It’s viewed as precedent-setting. This court decision itself doesn’t permanently strike down the permit for the project, but it makes the regulatory path forward more uncertain, slower, and burdensome. But it certainly prolongs the controversy over the project.

We interpret the court’s decision as more writing on the wall for the prospects of vineyard conversion in redwood forestland, but the project’s fate isn’t sealed. Plaintiff’s efforts will intensify in the coming year to convince Artesa to find an environmentally suitable alternative site, and sell the current project site for a conservation-oriented landowner.

The story isn’t over yet! We hope you will follow it.

Thanks,

Chris Poehlmann Friends of the Gualala River

For Immediate Release: December 6, 2013
Contact:
Chris Poehlmann, Friends of the Gualala River, (707) 886-5182
Victoria Brandon, Sierra Club Redwood Chapter, (707) 994-1931
Justin Augustine, Center for Biological Diversity, (415) 436-9682 x 302

Court Rejects Plan to Clearcut California Redwoods for Vineyard

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Elliot Daum has rejected a plan to clearcut 154 acres of Northern California redwoods to plant vineyards for a winery. The proposal in northwestern Sonoma County was challenged by the Sierra Club's Redwood Chapter, the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Gualala River. In response, Judge Daum said the state's "environmental impact report" for Artesa Winery's forest-to-vineyard project violates the California Environmental Quality Act.

"The highest and best use of coastal forests is to remain in their natural condition so they can protect our coastal rivers, support fish and wildlife, and combat climate change by sequestering carbon," said Victoria Brandon, chair of the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter.

The judge found that, in preparing the environmental review for the project, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) failed to properly analyze alternatives that would be less damaging to the environment, such as using an unforested area for the vineyard.The court also determined that the agency did not appropriately address the lost carbon sequestration that would result from destroying the redwood forest. Redwood forests are well known for their capacity to absorb massive amounts of greenhouse gases as they mature over time.

The judge also agreed with the conservation groups that the environmental report wrongly ignored California Board of Forestry policy regarding forest conversions. The board is charged with overseeing forest policy in California and opposes the conversion of prime timberland, like the project site. Finally, the court ruled that Cal Fire failed to properly address the project's pesticide impacts as well as the noise impacts.

"Rather than be destroyed to make room for a vineyard, this redwood forest will continue to do what it does best - provide habitat for wildlife and remove harmful carbon emissions from the atmosphere," said Justin Augustine, attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.

"Sonoma County has already experienced a large-scale conversion of natural oak woodlands and inland forests to agriculture. We have drawn a line to stop further destruction of redwood forests and salmon streams for more acres of grapes," said Chris Poehlmann, president of Friends of the Gualala River.

The project is funded by Spanish company Codorniu S.A., the owner of Napa Valley's Artesa Winery, and was approved by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Friends of the Gualala River is a volunteer nonprofit group that advocates for preservation of the Gualala River watershed in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
GualalaRiver.org

The Sierra Club works to protect and restore wild places, public health and wildlife for future generations. The Redwood Chapter covers northwestern California.
Redwood.SierraClub.org

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 625,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
BiologicalDiversity.org

Petition to stop Artesa:

Thanks to everyone who has signed this petition. We are pleased to report that the court has rejected Artesa plan to clearcut California redwoods for vineyard. Sonoma County Superior Court rejected Artesa Winery's plan to clearcut 154 acres of Northern California redwoods to plant vineyards. Judge Eliott Daum said the state's environmental impact report for the forest-to-vineyard project violates the California Environmental Quality Act. This court decision itself doesn't permanently strike down the permit for the project, but it makes the regulatory path forward more uncertain, slower and burdensome. We need to continue our efforts to convince Artesa to find an environmentally suitable alternative site, and sell the current forested site to a conservation-oriented landowner. Please forward this petition to your friends. Together we must convince Artesa Winery to stop their destructive plan. View the petition and take action. Thank you.

View the petition by copying and pasting this link in your browser: https://www.change.org/petitions/art...message_notice