[ODF_Private_Forests] DC Visit and Legislative Update

[WEEKS Kevin]

State Forester Doug Decker provided this update to Oregon Department of Forestry staff today regarding his recent mission to Washington D.C., and items of note this December.

Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry

From: DECKER Doug S
Subject: DC Visit and Legislative Update

Good morning.

A note today to recap a couple of eventful weeks, and to follow up on my earlier promise to reflect on the DC visit during the first week of December.

But first, to more timely updates:


 1.  Hopefully you saw the news release last week about our new Board of Forestry Chair Tom Imeson, and Board member Mike Rose. These two new members take their seats in January, and we bid farewell and sincere thanks to Chair John Blackwell and member Steve Wilson. We're planning a brief recognition-thanks-welcome as we start the Board meeting here in Salem on Wednesday, January 9th. If you are here and would like to drop by the Tillamook Room (and can get in, there may be standing room only), please do. The meeting begins at 9.


 1.  A very productive several days last week with the Oregon Legislature. We were before the Emergency Board to seek allocation of Special Purpose Appropriation funds to help pay for the 2012 fire season, and we presented details about work underway in State Forests, and about the Wildfire Protection Act. Our presentations were met with strong interest and support from legislators, and the 2012 fire funds were approved.


 1.  Individual meetings with legislators last week continued to reflect a high degree of satisfaction and support for how you carry out the Department's mission. We're readying for a busy legislative session which begins early next year and ensuring our legislative leaders have the information and context they need about our legislative agenda and budget for the coming session.

Now to reflections on the DC trip:

Witnessing the Supreme Court in action was fascinating: The decorum around how the court operates is everything you'd think it should be. It's impressive to observe our nation's finest legal practitioners engage in sophisticated, spirited but collegial exchanges in this venerable setting. Like watching great athletes who are the best at what they do. On our particular case, however, the outcome was not particularly satisfying. Considerable confusion arose from the filing the previous business day of some federal rules with significant bearing on the case. Here's a link to the Washington Post<http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-12-03/politics/35623493_1_epa-rule-pollution-case-chief-justice> story on the morning's activities. No word yet from the court on next steps, though it seems likely they will not take up the merits of the case.

Oregon's Congressional Delegation interested in forests and forestry: I visited with all of Oregon's six members of Congress or their key natural resource aides, focusing specifically on federal forest policy. Interest and attention is being paid nationally to Oregon's initiative to influence federal forest management issues, including Governor Kitzhaber's work on finding a new approach to managing O&C forest lands, and his recent budget proposal to help support the work of federal forest collaboratives. Our delegation members-like many Oregon legislators I visited with last week-recognize that change is necessary to achieve greater environmental, social and economic benefits and to restore the long-term health of Oregon's federal forests. The path is challenging, but we have opportunity, with strong interest and support from the Governor, Oregon's congressional delegation, from the Board of Forestry, the Oregon legislature, and from communities and organizations statewide. This will be a high priority for me and for the Board in the coming year.

Forest Legacy projects ready for success: Oregon is well positioned to make use of this federal funding to secure the future of two landscapes at risk of conversion out of working forest use with projects at number 6 and number 11 on the President's national list of funding priorities for the current federal fiscal year. Both of our projects are in eastern Oregon: one involves completion of acquisition for our Gilchrist State Forest and the other a conservation easement on about 1,400 acres of forest and range in the Blue Mountains. While in DC, I met with U.S. Forest Service leaders to bolster support for these projects, and with others to emphasize the importance of these actions. I'm hopeful that Forest Legacy can be an increasingly effective tool for forest conservation here in Oregon.


Holidays Ahead ~ Time with families to take stock, slow things down: I was deeply troubled and moved by the two extraordinary instances of violence that shook our nation last week, and reminded again about the preciousness of our families and the communities where we live. There is no simple explanation for these events. For me, there is only a reminder to count our blessings with those precious to us, to take an extra moment to observe and listen to others, to find simple ways to lend compassion to those in need.

As it happened, we had an opportunity here in Salem last week to do those very things. Almost 140 members of our Forestry family gathered for our annual Holiday Luncheon, a warm occasion to enjoy the company of colleagues, and to rekindle connections with many of our retirees. When the feast was done, those who had worked so hard to organize the event went a step further, sharing extra food with families in need, including a single mother whose teenage son has disabilities. It's gratifying to know that fellowship and acts of kindness are still very much alive among us.

As we approach the holidays and slow our lives down a bit for perspective and for rest, I extend my best wishes to you and your family.

Best,

Doug Decker, Oregon State Forester
Director, Oregon Department of Forestry
Oregon Department of Forestry
2600 State Street, Salem OR 97301
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