[ODF_Private_Forests] County advisory group for forestry to meet Feb 22, Salem

[WEEKS Kevin]

Oregon Dept. of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE

County advisory group for forestry to meet Feb 22, Salem

February 14, 2013

Major media distribution
Contact:
Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us<mailto:rnichols at odf.state.or.us>
Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427, kweeks at odf.state.or.us<mailto:kweeks at odf.state.or.us>

A group of county commissioners representing Oregon counties that in the past deeded forestland to the state for management will meet on Friday, Feb. 22, in Salem. Highlight items on the Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee's (FTLAC) agenda include:

 *   Report on the upcoming work of the Board of Forestry's subcommittee on State Forests Financial Viability - An Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) workgroup created to address revenue shortfalls in ODF's State Forests Division presented its final report and recommendations to the board on Jan. 9. In response, the board formed a subcommittee to continue this important work.

§  Review of land exchange and acquisition plans of the West Oregon and Astoria districts - ODF has developed strategic plans to acquire land parcels for the State Forests and also to exchange parcels with other parties. The board will review these plans at its March meeting.

 *   Status report on the administrative rule-amendment process to add a "high-value conservation" designation to the system used to classify state-owned forestlands.

The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in the Santiam Room - Building D, 2600 State St., in Salem. FTLAC meetings are open to the public, and an opportunity for public comment will be provided around 10 a.m.

The FTLAC is a legally mandated committee of county commissioners representing counties that deeded lands to the state. The committee advises the Board of Forestry on matters in which counties may have a responsibility related to forestland managed by ODF. Planning and policy decisions made by the board and department can affect revenues received by the counties with forest trust lands managed by ODF, which are located in the Tillamook State Forest and elsewhere.

Counties depend on revenue generated from management activities on these lands. The revenue is used primarily for local schools and also helps fund county government and local taxing districts.

The FTLAC is made up of seven members representing the 15 counties that have state forest land within their county boundaries. The trust counties include: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Douglas, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Washington.

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