Amid protest, Oregon Board of Forestry approves controversial Habitat Conservation Plan
Oregon Board of Forestry approves Habitat Conservation Plan Statesman Journal
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Board of Forestry Approves Habitat Conservation Plan in Oregon
The Oregon Board of Forestry voted Thursday to move forward with a controversial plan that would scale back logging on 640,000 acres of state forests while seeking to protect endangered wildlife.
Surrounded by a protest that included lines of logging trucks parked in downtown Salem, a divided board voted 4-3 to send the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan to federal officials for approval.
The final vote came after three different motions to delay failed, and many members of the public implored the board to take a different course.
What the Habitat Conservation Plan would do
The HCP is designed to bring western Oregon’s forests into alignment with the federal Endangered Species Act, preserving habitat for at least 17 threatened or endangered species.
But the plan also means reducing the amount of timber harvest on state forests, which means less revenue for local county services, including schools, and less jobs in rural areas already hard-hit by the decline in logging.
The plan would scale back logging to an estimated 185 million board feet of timber on western Oregon state forests. Over the last decade, the same forests have produced about 225 million board feet, officials said.
Plan moves to federal agencies for approval
The meeting opened with Oregon state forester Cal Mukumoto, head of the Oregon Department of Forestry, recommending the board approve the HCP.
He noted despite lower harvest levels, the plan was important because it provides a more “stable environment to operate” free from lawsuits and legal risk. Currently, ODF complies with the ESA through a process called “take avoidance” that requires costly species surveys and creates uncertainty around logging projects, the agency said.
By creating an HCP, the department becomes insulated from lawsuits and can harvest a more reliable — although smaller — amount of timber.
The plan will now be sent for approval from federal agencies, including NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Opponents blast Habitat Conservation Plan
Opponents of the plan protested the HCP’s passage. Logging trucks encircled the ODF building where the meeting was held. In public testimony, speakers said the decision would lead to jobs lost and fewer community services. In addition, they said, it would lead to ODF losing money that would eventually need to come from taxpayers.
Environmental groups applaud passage
Environmental groups applauded passage of the plan. They said Oregon’s state forests have been overharvested for years and the HCP was the bare minimum the agency could do to stop the extinction of numerous species including northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, salmon and steelhead, martens, red tree voles, torrent salamanders, and others.
Gov. Tina Kotek looks to ‘alleviate fiscal impact’
Gov. Tina Kotek said in a letter her office was investigating “whether and how we might alleviate the fiscal impact” to counties impacted by the loss of timber revenue.
“I want you to know that I see a viable pathway forward to address the estimated reduction in timber receipts,” the governor wrote. “I am committed to continuing this work with the expectation of bringing a proposal to the 2025 legislative session to permanently address the estimated shortfall.”
Motions to delay narrowly fail
In the final vote, Kelly, Deumling, Ferrari, and McComb all voted in favor of approving the HCP. Justice, Chambers, and Agpaoa voted against it.
In the lead up to the final vote, Justice, Chambers, and Agpaoa each put forward motions that would have delayed the approval. The motions called for additional study or finding ways to increase harvest level, but all three failed along the same lines.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
- Indicator: The plan seeks to protect at least 17 threatened or endangered species by preserving their habitat.
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- Indicator: The reduction in timber harvest on state forests may result in job losses in rural areas that are already struggling economically.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. | The plan seeks to protect at least 17 threatened or endangered species by preserving their habitat. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | The reduction in timber harvest on state forests may result in job losses in rural areas that are already struggling economically. |
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Source: statesmanjournal.com
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