RULEMAKING ON INCREASED TIMBER FOCUS IN JANUARY
The Board of Forestry is moving forward with their plan proposal to dramatically decrease protections for fish and wildlife on the north coast state forests.
COMMENT NOW! You can comment in support of maintaining current protections through a Sierra Club webpage that lets you customize your comments. CLICK HERE.
You can also send an email directly to Forestry Department staff who are collecting comments.
Tell them
1) Do not change the goals for older forest.
2) Do not increase the goals for clearcut forest stands.
3) Keep working with the federal fish and wildlife agencies on a Habitat Conservation Plan.
Comments due on January 29.
Hearing in Salem on Jan. 26.
Hearing in Seaside on Jan. 28.
ODF press release here with details on hearing location.
Get the specific proposed changes in this document.
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FEBRUARY 10 BOARD OF FORESTRY MEETING in SALEM at ODF Headquarters
The Board will conduct a workshop to
discuss revising the purpose of state forests. County representative
have proposed that timber production be made the primary purpose. A
wide coalition of groups prefers multiple use. More soon...
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COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER PURPOSE OF STATE FORESTS
Public meetings in Salem on Jan. 7, Feb. 17, March 17. Report to BOF in April.
ODF press release here.
More soon....
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Oregonian Editorial: Board of Forestry is "dominated by timber and labor interests"
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GROUPS PETITION BOARD to RECONSIDER JUNE 3 DECISION: PLAN TO REDUCE FISH AND WILDLIFE PROTECTIONS VIOLATES STATE LAW
Read the coverage:
Oregonian
News Times
OPB
Read the petition
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THE OREGONIAN WEIGHS IN...
BOARD OF FORESTRY "LOST ITS BALANCE"
CONTACT THE GOVERNOR AND TELL HIM WE NEED MORE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF FORESTRY
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RECENT HARVEST LEVELS UNSUSTAINABLE
In November of 2008, the Department of Forestry completed a new analysis that showed recent harvest levels have been significantly above the level sustainable under the current plans. New models of tree growth showed many stands growing much more slowly than had been previously thought -- and no one knows why. In addition, better data showed far more areas were too steep to harvest.
TIMBER HARVEST MAPS (WARNING -- BIG FILES!)
See what the latest Oregon Department of Forestry recommendation will mean for the Wilson River Watershed (750K map). The Wilson will see intensive clearcutting over the next 40 years if this recommendation goes forward. It is too extreme. We need balance on our state forests. Be sure to also take a look at this map of the last 40 years of clearcuts in Oregon's north coast forests (1.8 meg map).
