<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Garamond;
panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.Default, li.Default, div.Default
{mso-style-name:Default;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";
color:black;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Fire season update, opinion polling report, on Forestry Board’s Sept. 5 agenda</span></b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'>Aug. 29<b><span style='color:#0033CC'>,</span></b> 2012 Major media distribution<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'> Contact:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><i> </i> Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, <a href="mailto:rnichols@odf.state.or.us">rnichols@odf.state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420, <a href="mailto:dpostrel@odf.state.or.us">dpostrel@odf.state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A wildfire season update and a review of Oregonians’ forest-related opinions, values and concerns are among items on the agenda for the state Board of Forestry’s Sept. 5 meeting in Salem. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Agenda highlights:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Wildfire season update </b>– Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff will report on the 2012 wildfire season to date and discuss the outlook for the remainder of the season. ODF provides fire protection on about 16 million acres, just over half of the state’s forest landbase.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Public values and opinions on forests </b>– Rebecca Ball of DHM Research and ODF staff will present polling information about Oregonians’ forest-related values,<span style='color:red'> </span>and forest issues of top concern to Oregonians. The information is one of a series of reports the Board will receive in advance of an October workshop during which it will readjust priorities and work plans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The preparatory data will also include a report on a suite of indicators used to help determine whether Oregon’s forests are being managed sustainably. <s><o:p></o:p></s></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Forest assessment project </span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>– Staff will introduce the board to the Forest Assessment Project, a joint effort between ODF and Oregon State University. The project examines trends in the geographic distribution of forest vegetation, with attention to range shifts in tree species in the context of climate change, management, and other factors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Forest Practices monitoring, audit, and efficiency review update</b> – Staff will update the Board on forest monitoring projects, and on key initiatives related to the Oregon Forest Practices Act (FPA). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The FPA, a cornerstone of natural resource protection in Oregon forests, requires post-harvest reforestation, streamside buffers and other measures. ODF’s current budget, approved by the 2011 Legislature, restored<span style='letter-spacing:-.15pt'> capacity, lost during previous budget reductions, in the agency’s Private Forests Division. The budget also directed ODF to hire an independent contractor to audit FPA compliance rates, and to contract with an independent third party to assess and make recommendations for improvements in implementing the FPA.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>State government in a time of change </b>– Michael Jordan, Oregon’s chief operating officer, will address the board on improvements to the state’s budget development process and efforts to improve the function and effectiveness of state government.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Meeting time and location<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at ODF headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>More information<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at: <a href="http://www.oregonforestry.gov">www.oregonforestry.gov</a>. Background information on the Sept. 5 meeting, including staff reports, is available through the 2012 “Meeting Schedules” link on the website.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:black'>Special needs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the department’s Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting, 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>###<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>