Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon State Board of Forestry Monday came out against a proposed state law that would define the “greatest permanent value” of state forests as timber production.

Tillamook and Clatsop county lawmakers support the bill because they want more logging on their state lands.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

What is the most valuable part of the state’s forests?

The timber board feet contained in those big trees? Or is it the wildlife habitat and environmental benefits?

The Oregon State Board of Forestry says it’s a careful balance.

And so the Forestry Board voted 4-to-1 to oppose changing state law to prioritize timber harvests.

Steve Wilson: “I am a firm believer in multiple use forests.”

Steve Wilson is a forestry board member and a labor official at a major woodworkers union.

Steve Wilson: “It’s important that we as a board, I believe understand that even though times are bad economically, it’s our purpose to oversee and manage the forest.”

He says the legislature shouldn’t change the law just because counties need more revenue.

Forestry Board chair John Blackwell is scheduled to testify Tuesday to the state House agriculture committee.