BOARD OF FORESTRY CUTS PROTECTIONS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE

REJECTS SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW

MAKES RECENT OVER CUTTING OFFICIAL POLICY

KULONGOSKI "APPLAUDS VOTE"

On June 3, the Oregon Board of Forestry (BOF) voted to change the forest management plan to increase logging.   They did so despite the lowest timber prices in 40 years and despite the lack of peer reviewed science behind the decision.

The plan change will lead to a small short term-increase in logging, but the real story is that last November ODF found out that they had never actually followed the plan.  ODF has been cutting around 35% higher than was sustainable under the current plan.  The BOF response was to make the higher cut official, and to raise it even higher as a symbolic sacrifice to timber-obsessed legislators and county commissioners.  All this rush despite the lowest timber prices in 40 years.

Most bracing was the move toward majority voting on the board after 20 years of operating by consensus.  Under consensus, one or two moderate members of the board could drag policy closer toward Oregon's political center.  But under majority rule, two votes don't mean anything on a seven person body.  So five pro-timber votes rolled right over the single board member who expressed reservations about the rush and lack of science. (One board member was absent.)

There was a huge crowd at the meeting, with the fishing folk making a pretty incredible show.  About a dozen drift boats were parked out front.  There was a fire fighter there to control the size of the crowd in the main room, and they even had a video feed to an adjacent room that had people in it.

Tons of great testimony, plus some not-so great testimony.

Some highlights:

Professor Phil Ruder's Complete Dismantling of the Bogus ODF Jobs Data

Former Gov. Kitzhaber's excellent letter to the Board

The really scary part is that the Board also voted to reopen the language defining the mandate for the forest.  The current mandate is for a broad view of Greatest Permanent Value-- some Board members clearly want the law to put even more weight on timber production.

Check out new Board Chair Blackwell's statements in Salem on revising the mandate for state lands -- he points to the private lands as a model.  

Under majority rule, Blackwell has the votes to lead us there.

And where is our dear Governor on this?  According to OPB, "he applauds the vote." 

Oregonian Story Here.

WE MUST ASK THE GOVERNOR TO STOP APPLAUDING

CONTACT THE GOVERNOR AND TELL HIM YOU OPPOSE THE HARVEST INCREASE.