A Watershed moment for the Future of Oregon's Forests

Recently, industrial timber, small woodlands, and conservation representatives hammered out an agreement known as the Private Forest Accord. This is a tremendous opportunity to update and modernize Oregon’s Forest Practices Act to the benefit of all Oregonians. The agreement prepares for development of a Habitat Conservation Plan designed to protect endangered species. While the agreement does not specifically mention drinking water, the proposed no-cut buffers will improve both water quality and quantity in streams that cross private timber lands. This is a big deal for coastal communities like Lincoln City.

Background

For many years there have been deep political and social tensions over the Oregon Forest Practices Act (FPA). The FPA was one of the first in the nation in 1971. But as science and public expectations grew, neighboring states like Washington and California dramatically revamped their forest laws to better protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat than in Oregon. Oregon evolved only incrementally. Efforts by fishing and conservation groups to advance reform through the Board of Forestry or the state legislature were consistently unsuccessful. Key federal agencies also weighed in strongly on the need for reform, and they cut off millions of dollars in grants to coastal communities because Oregon forest laws did not protect water quality. In contrast, many timber industry advocates maintained that changes were unnecessary.

In late 2019, Governor Brown convened two parties, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups and the timber industry, to seek resolution outside of the ballot box. The intensive negotiations resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which included a commitment to pursue mediation to seek a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for private forests focusing on protecting imperiled fish. This overall approach -- agreement by the parties to set aside past conflicts and to work together to a common goal -- came to be called the Private Forest Accord (PFA).

The parties worked steadily throughout 2021, with multiple long meetings every week. The parties signed an agreement early in the morning on October 30, which the Governor announced later that morning via press release. All of the documents that were affirmed on October 30 are available here [PDF]. Ten summary documents, available on request, were prepared by the conservation and fishing negotiators to provide shorter descriptions of the issues covered in the agreement. The agreement now advances to the legislature to be codified into law; following that, a plan will be developed to present to federal fish and wildlife agencies for final approval under the Endangered Species Act.

Oregon clearcut without stream buffer
*Photo courtesy of Oregon Wild*

Learn more!

View this webinar to learn how the PFA will safeguard water quality, provide rural communities with greater economic certainty, and protect threatened and endangered fish through a Habitat Conservation Plan. Panel speakers were at the table throughout the negotiations. They will share how this historic agreement came to be, what it means, and what still needs to happen to make it a reality as Oregon moves forward into a new era of forest management.

Learn how forest practices in Oregon are changing for the better, and what you can do to help support this historic turning point in state management of our abundant natural resources. The hour-long webinar includes a question and answer session.

Brought to you by Lincoln City Audubon, Oregon Wild, and delivered by Oregon Coast Community College.