The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Benito finds and declares as follows:
(A) The many benefits that woodlands provide to communities are well known. The woodlands reduce air and noise pollution, provide shade and cooling, furnish habitat for wildlife, stabilize soils and protect against erosion, enhance aesthetics and property values and are an important contributor to community image and quality of life.
(B) Oak woodlands are an integral part of California’s living environment and provide cover, breeding area, and food for over 331 vertebrate species. Of the 632 terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) native to California, 331 use oak woodlands for food, cover and reproduction.
(C) Mature Blue Oak Foothill Pine, Blue Oak and Valley Oak hardwoods cover portions of western, central, and northeastern areas of the county (265,000 acres +/-) but there is little evidence of successful regeneration. (San Benito County General Plan — Open Space and Conservation Element, Page 9)
(D) (1) One component of the health of a woodlands habitat is the horizontal and vertical arrangement of vegetation (spacing, mix of ages, sizes and species). Piecemeal fragmentation of woodlands habitat will compromise the viability of the resources for range management, wildlife, water and soil quality.
(2) The California Board of forestry policy in its forest and rangeland resources assessment program is for the protection, enhancement and restoration of hardwood habitat to assure that hardwood species are for regeneration, protection of soil and water quality, and provision of sufficient habitat diversity to protect the viability of critical wildlife species. Implementation of the program is passive to some extent and relies on research, education, monitoring and coordination with local governments and private landowners. (Pacific Meridian Resources for Strategic and Resources Planning Program, CDFFP, Protecting Critical Hardwood Resources with Landowner Conservation Incentive Techniques, March 1993)
(E) Woodlands provide a wide variety of functions, values and benefits including essential functional elements of the plant communities and habitat for wildlife that constitute San Benito County’s natural heritage.
(F) Trees stabilize soil and improve water quality by reducing erosion and sedimentation and provision for the natural replenishment of ground water supplies by reducing stormwater runoff.
(G) Woodlands are essential in the preservation and enhancement of aesthetic qualities of the natural and built environments and maintaining the quality of life and general welfare of the county.
(H) Trees assist in reducing air pollution by absorption of carbon dioxide, ozone, particulate matter and oxygen production and counteract the effects of global warming resulting from the depletion of forest and urban trees.
(I) Woodlands conserve energy by means of shade and wind speed reduction and water conservation through reduction of evapotranspiration from the upper layers of soil.
(J) Woodlands promote increased property values.
(1966 Code, § 33-1) (Ord. 757, § 1(part))