The timber industry and their politicians are trying to stop years of work to find balanced habitat protections on state forests under a Habitat Conservation Plan. Their plan for state forests is to throw out habitat protections and increase clearcuts in critical habitat.
Add your voice in support of a strong state forest Habitat Conservation Plan for the Board of Forestry meeting on Wednesday, March 8!
Big timber is ramping up pressure on the Board of Forestry to abandon the Habitat Conservation Plan. In the legislature, they’re pushing a bill to transfer state forests over to the counties to undercut conservation and increase clearcutting. If passed, the counties could then sell state forests to the timber industry. We can’t allow this to happen.
Your voice matters. You helped strengthen the Board of Forestry’s support for the Habitat Conservation Plan when we defeated the timber industry’s attempts to stop this process only a few weeks ago.
The state forest Habitat Conservation Plan is a balance between long-term conservation and pressure for timber harvest. It is a good faith effort, developed over many years, to manage public lands for the good of all Oregonians today and into the future.
Send an email to the Board of Forestry today. Tell the Board that we are counting on them to adopt a strong Habitat Conservation Plan that protects salmon, wildlife and clean water in Oregon’s state forests! Ask them to support efforts to diversify funding for rural services, decreasing county dependence on revenue from timber sales.
Board of Forestry email: boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov
Sample Message:
Subject: Support a Strong State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan with No Delays
Dear Chair Kelly and Members of the Board of Forestry,
I’m writing to ask you to continue your support of a strong Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that is at least as protective as Conservation Alternative 3. The State Forest HCP is a workable balance that would protect iconic salmon runs, wildlife habitat, recreation, and clean water while ensuring more sustainable timber harvest. Now is the time to finalize the HCP and ensure that Oregon’s state forests are managed for multiple values.
Right now, the timber industry and supportive politicians are calling on you to reject the HCP, prioritizing timber harvest over all other values. They’re using inflammatory and misleading statements to undermine common-sense plans to protect state forests. Today I ask you to stand strong and support moving forward on the state forest HCP with no delays.
The HCP before you has been developed with years of extensive public input. The courts have affirmed the State’s right to manage for multiple benefits on state forests (Linn Co. v. State of Oregon). Now is the time to step up for Oregon’s state forests and for current and future generations by adopting a strong HCP. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
You can use our sample message or write your own. Either way, your voice is essential!
Thank you for continuing to support solid conservation practices in Oregon.