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<div>Oregon Department of Forestry</div>
<div>NEWS RELEASE</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Forestry Board to tour forests Nov. 5, meet in Tillamook Nov. 6</b></div>
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<div>For immediate release Major media distribution</div>
<div>October 23, 2009 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425 </div>
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<div><b>BOARD OF FORESTRY MEETING – NOV. 6</b></div>
<div>Revision of a rule that guides management of Oregon’s state forests, and updates to the forestland classification system for wildfire protection will be on the Board of Forestry’s agenda when it meets Nov. 6 in Tillamook. On Nov. 5, the board will tour
forests in the Garibaldi area owned by Ecotrust, a Portland-based conservation organization.</div>
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<div><b>State Forests policy</b></div>
<div>At its June 2009 meeting, the board directed the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to begin a review of Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) that pertain to the definition of “Greatest Permanent Value” and for developing state forest management plans. Known
as the “purpose” of state forestlands, Greatest Permanent Value is a policy goal to provide healthy, productive and sustainable forest ecosystems that produce a full range of benefits. </div>
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<div>ODF has recommended that the review include consultation with the statutorily mandated Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee, and that the opinions and ideas of the general public be sought through a public advisory committee. </div>
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<div><b>Land classification for wildfire protection</b></div>
<div>ODF will seek the board’s approval to begin administrative rulemaking that would update the existing land classification system and bring it into alignment with statutory changes made in the 2009 legislative session. In 2007, a steering committee representing
a broad array of interests conducted a wide-ranging review of the system, making recommendations both in statute and in administrative rules to update the forestland classification. The final report from the committee included recommendations to modify the
pertinent administrative rules to: </div>
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<li>better reflect current conditions on the ground</li><li>improve efficiency of the system </li><li>make administration of the system more consistent</li></ul>
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<div><b>Forestry Program for Oregon</b></div>
<div>ODF staff will present draft objectives for the 2011 edition of the board’s strategic plan, the <i>Forestry Program for Oregon.</i> The plan sets forth the board’s mission and vision for Oregon’s forests, and the values that will guide its decisions over
the next eight years. The objectives are organized around the Board's seven goals for the sustainable management of Oregon's public and private forests. These goals address protecting soil and water quality, maintaining productive forest capacity, conserving
native plant and animal populations, ensuring diverse social and economic benefits, maintaining and restoring forest health, enhancing carbon storage, and building institutional capacity.</div>
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<div><b>Board priorities in 2010-2011</b></div>
<div>The board will consider for adoption a set of priority issues to address in 2010 and 2011. These concern private and state-owned forestlands, wildland fire risk management, policies on dynamic forest ecosystems and forest vitality, and other issues. </div>
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<div><b>2011-2013 Department of Forestry budget</b></div>
<div>The board will consider draft principles and guidance for developing the 2011-2013 ODF budget. Maintaining ODF’s core business functions and customer service amid funding cutbacks ranks as a high priority. </div>
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<div><b>Legislative concepts</b></div>
<div>Staff will present draft guidance for the development of legislative concepts for the 2011 Oregon legislative session. Due to Gov. Kulongoski’s office by April 2010, these concepts could eventually become bills to be considered by the Legislature.</div>
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<div>The meeting is open to the public, and comments will be received on forestry-related items not included in the agenda during a public comment period shortly after 8 a.m. Members of the public wishing to comment on specific agenda items will have an opportunity
to address the board during the time each item is scheduled. </div>
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<div>Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the ODF Agency Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting - 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213. </div>
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<div>More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/</u></font></a>. Background information on agenda items for the Nov. 6 meeting is available through the
2009 Meeting Schedule link.</div>
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<div><b>BOARD OF FORESTRY TOUR – NOV. 5</b></div>
<div>The Board of Forestry will tour Ecotrust forestlands in the Garibaldi area from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The tour will provide on-the-ground perspective of the conservation group’s forest management strategies. Ecotrust is working to develop landscape-scale
examples of conservation-based forest management that protects core ecological and social values while still producing timber. The tour will begin with a briefing at the Old Mill Event Center, 210 S. Third St., in Garibaldi. Members of the public wishing to
join the board are asked to bring their lunch and provide their own transportation.</div>
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