September 9, 2009
Board of Forestry Meets in Silverton, Oregon
RESULT OF THE BOARD OF FORESTRY MEETING ON SEPT. 9
The Board of Forestry met in Silverton, Oregon on Sept. 9, and after some initial resistance from some Board members, the Board signed off on moving forward to weaken the conservation commitments in the forest management plans for the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests.
Previously, the Department of Forestry had 50% of the forest designated to become older and more complex. Now, only 30% will be so designated. In addition, the Salmon Anchor Habitat strategy will be largely abandoned, and the draft habitat conservation plan for spotted owls (designed with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will be replaced by a less protective "species of concern" plan that did not include USFWS input in its design.
As in June, lots of people were at the Board meeting, and there was great public testimony. All the testimony opposed the increased emphasis on timber production on the state forests. The Steelheaders, Native Fish Society, Sierra Club, Pacific Rivers Council, Oregon Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, and Wild Salmon Center all gave comments.
The whole meeting was framed by a strongly worded editorial from the Oregonian that morning (http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/09/a_fork_in_the_forest_road.html). The editorial cautioned against a tilt toward timber, but noted there was cause to expect a timber bias given that the BOF is "dominated by timber interests and labor representatives."
Board member Hutchison introduced an amendment that asked the Department to review several issues as part of the forest plan revision, but it is not clear what the Hutchison amendment means. The amendment says that the Board "shall review" things like the Salmon Anchor Habitat strategy, ecosystem services, scientific review, and the importance of restoring habitat as the Board "proceeds through final rule making..."
Board member Hayes added that he desired to know the tradeoffs involved in protecting the top 30% of habitat on the landscape. Because the Board is moving from a 50% to a 30% target for older forest, Hayes suggested that the area protected be the best 30% on the landscape today. Hayes' concern was added to the list on the Hutchison amendment.
The Hutchison amendment as modified by Hayes was added to the forest plan review.
ODF will report back to the Board on these various issues, possibly at the November meeting in Tillamook. It remains to be seen whether these amendments will result in greater emphasis on conservation than was directed in June. Some of the issues in the Hutchison amendment could temper the ill effects of the June 3 BOF decision.
One interesting moment of drama came just before lunch, when the Board considered whether to approve the specific language for changing the Forest Management Plan. Hutchison suggested waiting until November to approve the language that will go out for rule making. He noted that he would first like to see how ODF staff would address the issues called for in his amendment.
State Forester Brown, however, spoke against a delay, noting vaguely that some people would not like the delay.
So the Board voted 4-3 to move forward with rule making immediately. Hutchison, Hayes, and Mukumoto voted for delay.
Then, upon returning from lunch, the Board announced that the vote would be changed to 7-0. There were apparently sidebar conversations over lunch that included some kind of agreement to adequately address the Hutchison and Hayes amendments.
The change in the vote seemed a bit odd to this observer.
The Oregonian's Matt Preusch live-blogged the meeting.
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/09/liveblogging_oregon_forestry_b.html
Preusch also quoted Chair Blackwell in an Oregonian story that followed the meeting.
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/09/state_board_to_reexamine_where.html
On one hand, it is good to see Chair Blackwell eschewing any tradeoffs of habitat for timber. On the other hand, the Board has already decided to trade off habitat for more timber under his leadership.
