[ODF_Private_Forests] Ray Jones joins OFRI board

[WEEKS Kevin]

Private Forests News list members:
Forwarding this news release on behalf of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute

Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
(503) 945-7427
kweeks at odf.state.or.us

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Oregon Forest Resources Institute

News Release



June 9, 2009

Contact:

Dave Kvamme, OFRI – 971-673-2948



Ray Jones joins OFRI board



The Oregon state forester has appointed W. Ray Jones to the board of directors of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. State Forester Marvin Brown appointed Jones to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Matthew Donegan. His term expires in 2011.



OFRI was created by the Oregon Legislature in 1991 to improve public understanding of the state’s forest resources and to encourage environmentally sound forest management.



Jones is vice president of resources for Stimson Lumber Co. in Portland. His career spans more than 30 years in the forest products industry, from field operations to executive management positions. Jones brings to the OFRI board a passion for educating the public about the forest sector. In particular, he has been involved in numerous industry associations working to foster understanding of public land management issues in the Pacific Northwest. He has been active on the boards and committees of the American Forest Resource Council, Oregon Forest Industry Council, Intermountain Forestry Association, Western Climate Initiative and Douglas Timber Operators. Born in Corvallis and raised in Sweet Home, Jones lives in Scappoose.



Jones’ board position represents Class 3 producers, those companies paying harvest taxes on 100 million board feet per year or more. Oregon law stipulates that nine board members represent all of three producer classes, categorized by timber harvest volume into small, medium and large producers. Class 3 represents the largest producers. The state forester appoints these nine, as well as one member representing small woodland owners and one representative of forest industry employees. Also, two ex officio members include the dean of the Oregon State University College of Forestry and a public member appointed jointly by the president of the Oregon Senate and the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.



OFRI is funded by a dedicated harvest tax on forest products producers and does not receive monies from the state’s general fund.



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