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</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><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Leadership transition, remarks from Governor Kitzhaber on Forestry Board agenda </span></b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'>January 3, 2013 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>The Oregon Board of Forestry will mark a transition at its Jan. 9 meeting in Salem, as John Blackwell, whose term as board chair ended Dec. 31, passes the gavel to Tom Imeson, public affairs director at the Port of Portland. Michael Rose, a forest industry labor representative, is joining the board as well, succeeding Steve Wilson, whose term also ended Dec. 31.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Governor Kitzhaber will thank the outgoing members for their service, welcome the new members, and offer his perspectives on challenges facing federally owned forestland in Oregon. The board has placed high priority on issues involving the 60 percent of Oregon’s forestland base that is federally owned, and will take up the topic later in its agenda.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Two panels will provide updates and views on forest health, economic viability of rural communities, and other issues related to the 60 percent of Oregon’s forestland base that is federally owned. The first panel will update the board on state actions intended to influence federal forest policy. These include a legislative proposal to support local collaborative groups working on forest projects, and Kitzhaber’s initiative to address the future of the Oregon and California forestlands in western Oregon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>A second panel will include guest speakers representing various groups with a range of interests in the management of federally owned forests. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Based on the Jan. 9 discussion, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff will return with proposals this spring for specific board engagement in federal forest policy issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Other agenda highlights include:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Improving financial viability of the State Forests Division<span style='color:#0033CC'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>A work group formed to address budget shortfalls in the ODF State Forests Division will present its final report and recommendations.<span style='color:red'> </span>The division is self-supporting, almost entirely through timber sale revenues, which took a dramatic downturn during the national housing and economic crises. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The work group’s short-term recommendations include continuing with cost reduction measures, increasing timber harvest volumes within existing policies, and improving business practices and functions.<span style='color:#0033CC'> </span>Long-term recommendations include developing alternative forest management plans and an overall financial plan for the division, and evaluating alternative revenue streams.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Planning fire protection work<span style='color:#0033CC'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>ODF staff will present a draft Fire Protection Division work plan for board consideration. The plan covers priority items, including the Wildfire Protection Act, HB 2050 in the 2013 legislative session, which would control and equitably distribute costs in Oregon’s wildfire protection system.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Other draft work plan items include revising the Oregon Smoke Management Plan, and reviewing ODF’s agreements with forest protective associations—integral partners in fire protection—and updating them as necessary.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0033CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Connecting with the Oregon State University College of Forestry<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Dr. Thomas Maness, new dean of the College of Forestry, will present his vision of the future of the college. The forest economist will also discuss collaboration between the institution and ODF, and profile several key initiatives underway in the college.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Salmonberry “Rails and Trails” update <span style='color:#0033CC'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>The board will receive an update on ODF’s partnership with local and state agencies to consider the feasibility of this proposal to develop the rail bed through the Salmonberry Canyon in Tillamook County into a recreational trail system.<span style='color:#0033CC'> </span>The Portland-based landscape architecture firm of Walker-Macy provided an initial, high-level feasibility analysis of the project last November. <span style='color:#0033CC'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=bodywellcontenttable1 style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Meeting details<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=bodywellcontenttable1 style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the administration building’s Tillamook Room at ODF’s Salem headquarters, 2600 State St. The agenda includes a general public comment period shortly after 9 a.m. Public comment on specific agenda items will be received as the board takes them up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>More information on the Board of Forestry is online at: <a href="http://www.oregonforestry.gov">www.oregonforestry.gov</a>. Background information on the Jan. 9 meeting, including staff reports, is available through the 2013 “Meeting Schedules” link on the website.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></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, at (503) 945-7200. <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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>