Let’s Talk Timber, Madame Governor!!!

Following President Barack Obama’s visit to Oregon last week, the Salem Statesman Journal published a letter to the President: Let's talk timber, Mr. President.

In the letter/editorial, the newspaper thanks the President for talking up Salem-based Oregon fruit products. However, the letter notes, “there's an even more important issue that cries for your help: increasing timber harvests on federal lands.”

Me, Too!

The same plea could be addressed to Governor Kate Brown for increasing timber harvests on State Forest land. Previously, the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources considered, House Bill 3210. HB3210 was a bill that increased timber production on the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests.

The Council of Forest Land Trust Counties in Northwest Oregon supported modifications to the original bill. The counties, who were the original owners of the forestland, sought to increase sustainable timber harvests from the State Forests.

The counties and several House Ag and Natural Resources Committee members are frustrated with the length of time it has taken the Board of Forestry and the Department of Forestry to craft a new plan that increases timber sales.

Died too soon…

As the Committee prepared to adopt the counties’ proposal, Chairman Rep. Brad Witt announced that he was pulling HB 3210 due to a letter he received from Board of Forestry Chair Tom Imeson and State Forester Doug Decker. The letter promised to keep the forest plan changes on a fast track.

Meanwhile, the counties are suffering financially from dwindling federal and state timber revenue. In fact, the Department of Forestry is seeking to replace timber receipts with scarce money from Oregon’s General Fund.

All State Forests

Northwest Oregon isn’t the only place the Governor could increase revenue from improved forest management. The State Land Board, Chaired by Governor Brown has over 80,000 acres of very productive forestland on the Elliott State Forest. These Common School Fund trust lands have seen a sharp decline in timber production following the settlement of an Endangered Species Act lawsuit filed by environemntalists upset with the new forest management plan to manage the ESF.

Madame Governor, it is not just the US Forest Service’s National Forests and the USDI Bureau of Land Management’s Oregon & California trust lands that need the President’s attention. State Forests in northwest and southwest Oregon could help produce County revenue, School funds and most importantly jobs!  Act now, while the 2015 legislature is still in session!!!