Help protect the Monterey Pines of the Del Monte Forest

Last summer, on June 14, 2006 after nearly ten years of procrastinating, the Pebble Beach Company was scheduled to finally have its long awaited first major statewide public hearing before the California Coastal Commission on one of the most destructive projects ever proposed for the California coast—Measure A – the plan to chop down over 18,000 of the last native coastal Monterey pine trees and forest habitat in the Del Monte Forest in Monterey County for a new golf course, more mansions and additional resort rooms.

The day before the hearing and without any advance notice, after hundreds of activists had traveled to Sonoma County from throughout California for the hearing, and after thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money had been spent analyzing the ill-conceived project, Pebble Beach Company withdrew in order to avoid certain denial.

 

It was hoped by all that PBC had finally realized that their plan to destroy the forest and wetlands and over two dozen rare plants and animals living there was not allowable under the California Coastal Act. 

 

 

 

Now a year has gone by and PBC is back.  Unfortunately, rather than changing the development plan, PBC has instead concentrated on changing membership of the Coastal Commission.  At least two Commissioners, both of whom had expressed severe reservations regarding the project, are gone from the Commission.  Four more Commissioners’ terms will expire soon.

 

The PBC plan to destroy the Monterey pines for golf and resort development is scheduled to be heard by the Coastal Commission at its upcoming meeting in Santa Rosa on June 13.  We need your help more than ever!

 

Mark Massara

 

 

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Protect the Pine Trees of the Monterey Forest-Reject the Pebble Beach project.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to protect the Del Monte Monterey Pine Forest and reject the Pebble Beach Company's proposal to cut down 18,000 Montery Pine trees for a resort, mansions and an equestrian center. The Del Monte Forest is a designated Environmetaly Sensative Habitat area and thefore it is illegal under the Coastal Act to allow the massive construction planned by the Pebble Beach Company. Please urge the Pebble Beach Company to look for other, less destructive ways to profit from their land that does not exploit this rare natural area and community resource.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 20, 2007


Background Information

As California becomes more and more crowded there will be increased pressure to exploit and profit from our great coastal places like the Del Monte Monterey Pine Forest.  The Del Monte forest is the largest intact Monterey Pine Forest left, since so much of the forest has been cut down over the years for golf courses, hotels and homes.  Furthermore,  the Monterey Pines of the Del Monte Forest have been designated as Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) under the coastal act.  To allow the sort of massive construction and development proposed by the Pebble Beach company would send a message that to be designated as ESHA doesn't offer the level of protection that the threatened and endangered species of these fragile areas need to survive.  Protecting these pines will help ensure that our most fragile coastal habitat areas get the protection they deserve.