Become familiar with the California State Board of Forestry & Fire Protection

MISSION STATEMENT The California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's mission is to provide policy leadership and to generate public interest and support in those matters key to the future of the state's forest and rangelands.

The California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is important to anyone interested in forestry issues. The Board develops general forestry policy for the state, guides the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and regulates professional foresters among other duties. The list of powers and responsibilities is long and diverse.

The Board is charged with protecting the state's forest resources--timber, park and recreation reserves, woodland, brush-range watersheds--and "all such lands in private and state ownership that contribute to California's forest resource wealth."

As in so many things, California was the first in the country to develop a Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, at that time a three-person educational and advisory body appointed in 1885. This early Board was joined by a State Forester in 1905 and the Division of Forestry in 1927. In 1947, the state legislature passed the Forest Practice Act which increased the Board's standing. And it was in 1973, with the passage of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act, that the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection was reorganized and given the powers and responsibilities it has today.

Members of the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection are appointed by the governor on the basis of their "professional and educational qualifications and their general knowledge or interest in the problems that relate to watershed management, forest management, fish and wildlife, range improvement, forest economics, or land use policy."

A specific ratio of board representation is required by law: 5 members from the general public, 3 from the forest products industry, and 1 from the range-livestock industry. The chair of the Board is appointed by the governor while the vice-chair is elected by the members.

Board members are generally appointed for a 4-year term; reappointment at the end of this period is allowed. Terms are staggered, providing continuity, and all appointments must be confirmed by the State Senate.

In addition to the Board members, there is an Executive Officer appointed by the Board to handle business matters and a forester appointed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to assist the Executive Officer and oversee the Forester Licensing Program.

Within the Board there are three committees: Ecosystem Management, Forest Practices, and Resource Protection. Advisor committees are sometimes appointed for specific issues. There are also committees established by law to advise the Board, such as the Professional Foresters Licensing Committee and the Range Management Advisory Committee.

For more information, check the Board site at http://www.fire.ca.gov/BOF/BOF.asp.

Keeping Current

There are a number of ways to follow Board of Forestry and Fire Protection activities:

Go to Board meetings. They meet approximately once a month and these meetings are open to the public. (Dates, times, and location are subject to change. To verify, call (916) 653-8007.)

You may request to be put on the mailing lists to receive the Board agendas and minutes by making a request in writing to:
State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
(916) 653-8007

There are numerous nonprofit organizations that report on new legislation and policy changes.

There is quite a bit of information on the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection website if you want to poke around a bit. This is probably the best way to find Rule change notices.

BoF homepage
General information (agendas, minutes, reports, etc.
Proposed Rule Packages
Public Resources Code
California Code of Regulations