AB 1958 Summary

• Authorizes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt from timber harvesting plan requirements persons cutting or removing trees to restore and conserve California black or Oregon white oak woodlands and associated grasslands until January 1, 2024.

• Expands the Forest Fire Prevention Pilot Project Exemption to allow removal of trees up to 26 inches in stump diameter (increased from 24 inches) in specified counties including Alpine, Amador, Butte, and others, with exemption expiring January 1, 2021.

• Defines "growing of timber" to include restoration and conservation forest management activities that may involve removal of commercial species to achieve forest health and ecological goals, thereby exempting such activities from timberland conversion permit requirements.

• Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and State Board to submit a report to the Legislature by December 31, 2017 reviewing trends in use, compliance, and effectiveness of forest management exemptions and emergency notice provisions.

• Specifies detailed requirements for oak woodland restoration activities including tree size limits, conifer reduction targets, slash treatment standards, and archaeological surveys, with exemption limited to 300 acres per property per five-year period.