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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A name=OLE_LINK18></A><A
name=OLE_LINK17><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Oregon Department of
Forestry</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3><SPAN class=354351521-08122009>NEWS
RELEASE</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><A
name=OLE_LINK10></A><A name=OLE_LINK9></A><FONT size=3><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">State</SPAN></B></SPAN></SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Forest</st1:PlaceType> Stewardship Coordinating
Committee meets December 17 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Salem</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>December <SPAN
class=354351521-08122009>8</SPAN>,
2009<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Contact: Kevin Weeks (503)
945-7427<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
will update committee members on a project to assess <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s current forest
resources on December 17.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The 2010 State of <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon Statewide Forest Assessment</st1:State> and Resource Strategy
is designed to identify <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s current forest resources and, based
on the assessment, develop a strategy for integrating federal<SPAN
class=354351521-08122009>,</SPAN> state and private forestry programs with
efforts to address issues such as wildfire, maintaining forestland as forest,
diversity of forest habitats for fish and wildlife, invasive species and climate
change. The Statewide Forest Assessment will identify high priority areas within
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> for
taking action.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The discussion regarding the Forest
Assessment Resource Strategy project will occur Thursday December 17, 2009 from
10:00am to 12:30pm at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem,
2600 State Street (Operations Building D, Santiam meeting room).
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The coordinating committee will be
updated on the status of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s proposed Forest Legacy Program
projects for federal Fiscal Year 2011 funding.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Forest Legacy is <SPAN
class=354351521-08122009>a </SPAN>federal program that uses conservation
easements or public acquisition to conserve private forest lands in areas where
forests may be lost to non-forest uses. The program is administered in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> though
a partnership between the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Pacific
Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Members of the public are invited to
attend and participate in the meeting. </FONT><A name=OLE_LINK3></A><A
name=OLE_LINK4></A><A name=OLE_LINK5></A><A name=OLE_LINK6></A><A
name=OLE_LINK7></A><A name=OLE_LINK8><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3"><FONT
size=3>The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests
for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons
with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be
directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry
at</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A><FONT size=3> 503-945-7368.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The 2008 Farm Bill passed by Congress
contained an amendment to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act requiring
states that receive Farm Bill funding perform the forest assessment study by
mid-2010, with updates at five-year increments after that. States are also
required to report on the effectiveness of how federal funding was used in
priority regions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Farm Bill
funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which in turn provides funding for
many ODF services in urban and community forestry, forest health protection,
forest stewardship and state fire assistance through the U.S. Forest Service’s
State and Private Forestry
Program.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>One-half of <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>’s 61 million acres are forested, with 60 percent of
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s
forests under federal ownership, 35 percent privately-owned while state, tribal
or local government ownership accounts for the remaining five percent.
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s
forests are among one of the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced
mix of environmental, economic and social benefits.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Additional information about the Oregon
Department of Forestry is available on ODF’s web site,
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">www.oregon.gov/ODF</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></A><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>###</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=354351521-08122009><FONT size=3>Kevin
Weeks</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=354351521-08122009><FONT size=3>Public
Information Officer</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=354351521-08122009><FONT size=3>Oregon
Department of Forestry</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=354351521-08122009><FONT size=3>(503)
945-7427</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>