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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A name=OLE_LINK1></A><A
name=OLE_LINK18></A><A name=OLE_LINK17><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Oregon Department of
Forestry</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><SPAN class=117530119-22012010>NEWS
RELEASE</SPAN></FONT></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_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></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"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><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 January 28 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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>January 2<SPAN class=117530119-22012010>2</SPAN>,
2010<o:p></o:p></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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 coordinating
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 January
28. <o:p></o:p></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>The 2010 State of Oregon Statewide Forest Assessment and Resource
Strategy is designed to identify Oregon’s current forest resources and develop a
strategy for integrating federal, state and private forestry programs to address
concerns including wildfire, keeping forests working as forests, diversity of
forest habitats for fish and wildlife, prevention of 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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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 January 28, 2010 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Oregon
Department of Forestry headquarters in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Salem</st1:City></st1:place>, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">2600 State Street</st1:address></st1:Street> (Operations Building D,
Santiam meeting room) during a meeting of the State Forest Stewardship
Coordinating Committee.
<o:p></o:p></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>The coordinating committee will also 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 a federal
program that uses conservation easements or public land 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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><FONT size=3><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Oregon</SPAN></st1:State></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">’s forests are among one of the state’s most valued
resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social
benefits. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is
available on ODF’s web site, </SPAN></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_LINK1"><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><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></A><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK17"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></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_LINK1"><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></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>