Description of Problem

What is it?

Forest to vineyard conversion is exactly as it sounds: the native upland and riparian vegetation of a particular area is clear-cut or removed in order to provide arable land for the production of wine-grapes. Over the past three decades as California’s wine industry has expanded, this practice has been utilized more and more frequently and become highly controversial. Aside from the pretense of wealthy wine conglomerates invading small towns and being granted alarmingly easy access to destroy natural ecosystems, these conversions carry a whole slew of side effects that are detrimental on an economic, cultural, and environmental scale. However, anyone who is interested in starting any vineyard or orchard site development must have a VESCO permit to do so, as well as complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which is intended to protect streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and watercourses from pollution.