FISHING AND CONSERVATION GROUPS CALL FOR GREATER PROTECTION FOR SALMON HABITAT AND OLDER FORESTS ON OREGON STATE LANDS

Fishing and conservation groups continue to call on the Board of Forestry to establish permanent conservation areas for the protection of fish, wildlife, recreation and older forests on state lands in the wake of the State Forester's decision to approve a new 10-year management plan for the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests.

The 10-year Implementation Plan approved by State Forester Doug Decker yesterday allows increased clear cutting on tens of thousands of additional acres of state forestland between the Portland area and the coast. Decker also, however, opted to slowly phase in harvest increases in order to make room for the Board of Forestry to re-examine their forest management strategies.

The new 10-year plan has proven particularly controversial due to the highly critical review of the plans from scientists with Oregon State University's Institute for Natural Resources in April. The scientists, in a 110-page report, determined the Oregon Department of Forestry consistently failed to use the best available science in developing its plans to increase logging. For example, the scientists found that the increased harvest carries a high probability that some species could reach a tipping point in their ability to survive, and that none of the limiting factors that ODF used in its analysis were consistent with existing science.

"It is disappointing that the State Forester has approved the plans without fully incorporating the best available science at the front end, but we are encouraged by the State Forester's interest in seeking a new approach. Any balanced plan needs to have long-term protected areas on state land to ensure that critical salmon streams and older forests are conserved for generations to come," said Ivan Maluski, conservation director with the Oregon Chapter Sierra Club.

"Salmon and steelhead fisheries form a critical part of the North Coast economy, and that fish habitat needs long-term protection and restoration," added Ian Fergusson, resource director with the Association of Northwest Steelheaders.

The groups are calling on both the Board of Forestry and Governor Kitzhaber to show more active leadership to protect key habitat on state forests. In an April 2009 letter to the Board of Forestry, Kitzhaber called for a strong emphasis on restoration and science in state forest management.

"Oregon needs a balanced approach to the management of our state forests, and this isn't it," said Bob Van Dyk with the Wild Salmon Center. "Governor Kitzhaber has a history of leadership on state forests, and we hope he will take advantage of the State Forester's interest in examining new management approaches. Oregon needs the Governor's help to bring people together around a plan that protects the best habitat on our state forests for the long term while providing a predictable stream of revenue and forest products over time."