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AGENDA: State Forest Board to hear about environmental collaborations, Marbled Murrelet, future legislation and others

(Courtesy Michael Richardson/Wikimedia Commons)

The Oregon Board of Forestry will get an update on a new environmental initiative, approve future legislative proposals and update forest work plans at its upcoming meeting in Salem on Wednesday, March 4.

The board is a seven-member panel appointed by the governor that’s charged with providing direction to the state Department of Forestry, appointing the state forester and adopting rules that govern timber harvests and other practices on private forestland.

The work plans slated for consideration on Wednesday are a way for the board to identify issues and priorities for the department. The plans affect both state and private forests and concern economic considerations, water quality and conservation issues.

The board will hear a presentation from the Oregon State University College of Forestry on a long-term study on the nesting needs of the Marbled Murrelet and how they affect forest management issues. The board will also hear about a new collaboration between the Department of Forestry and the Department of Environmental Quality on water pollution issues. Additionally, they’ll get an update on cash flow issues for firefighting efforts and will hear about legislation that’ll be submitted in the 2021 session.

Meeting details: the meeting will be held Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m., in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem.

Meeting materials and information on watching a live stream of the meeting can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/BOFMeetings.aspx.

Board members: Tom Imeson, Nils Christoffersen, Cindy Deac​on Williams, Mike Rose, Joe Justice, Jim Kelly, Brenda McComb.