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class=188520723-24112008>Oregon Department of
Forestry</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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class=188520723-24112008>NEWS RELEASE</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE<SPAN
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</SPAN>Distribution:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Major
Media<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">November 24, 2008<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Contact: David Morman<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">08-47<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>503-945-7413<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">A
new strategy for <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>’s forest
cluster<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>A newly developed economic development strategy for <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>’s forest cluster will be presented on Dec. 10, from
1-4 p.m., at the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">World</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Forestry</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Portland</st1:City></st1:place>. Members of the public and interested
stakeholders are invited to attend.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>'s forest cluster includes firms and
organizations that support or benefit from the primary and secondary wood
products sectors, and a broad spectrum of forest ecosystem
services.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>’s forest cluster
faces vigorous global competition, and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> is losing wood products manufacturing
facilities. The forest cluster may soon no longer be able to significantly
contribute to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>’s rural economies; provide the people,
equipment, and wood products market access needed to ensure the economic
viability of private forestland ownership; or supply the infrastructure needed
to restore overstocked forests susceptible to uncharacteristic wildfire and
forest health risks.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>A group of public and private partners have developed a strategy that
addresses these concerns.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The goal
of the strategy is to create and maintain a favorable investment climate for
environmentally sensitive, socially responsible, and globally competitive
forest-based businesses throughout <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>These businesses will then generate high-quality, value-added products;
family wage, high-skilled jobs; increased forest products exports; and increased
revenues to private landowners – landowners who, in turn, provide public
benefits from their forestlands for all Oregonians including clean water, fish
and wildlife habitat, and carbon storage.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The strategy focuses on three key areas: federal forests restoration,
forest cluster vitality, and the forestry workforce. At the Dec. 10 briefing,
public and private sector representatives will discuss each component and
recommended actions. An opportunity for feedback and discussion will follow, and
the briefing will end with a hosted reception. The event is free, however
registration is required. More information on the Dec. 10 briefing, including
the registration form, is available at: </FONT><A
title=http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml
href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml"><FONT
title=http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml
face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>On Dec. 11, the strategy will also be presented and discussed at the
seventh annual Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit – a gathering of
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>’s top
business and elected leaders. The summit, which will be held at the
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Convention Center</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City>, will focus on the economic
development, employment outlook, and sustainability of various industry clusters
– including a discussion of the forest cluster during the morning plenary
session. For more information on the Oregon Leadership Summit – including
registration – visit: </FONT><A title=http://www.oregonleadershipsummit.org/
href="http://www.oregonleadershipsummit.org/"><FONT
title=http://www.oregonleadershipsummit.org/ face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.oregonleadershipsummit.org/</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The forest cluster strategy has been created by a working group of public
and private partners – the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Economic and
Community Development Department, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, and Oregon
State University College of Forestry, along with private sector
representatives.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>More information on the forest cluster strategy is available online on
the department’s website at </FONT><A
title=http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml
href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml"><FONT
title=http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml
face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/forestclusterstrategy.shtml</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>###</FONT></P>
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