State Legislature Passed Historic Timber Agreement into Law
Rubber and Wood | 2022-03-23 12:58:52
The agreement was codified into state law, by way of passing of three bills that emerged from the PFA.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Oregon state legislature has passed the historic agreement between the timber industry and environmental advocates into law. The agreement, known as the Private Forest Accord (PFA), proposes a comprehensive set of changes to the Oregon Forest Practices Act.
The negotiations on the historic agreement had commenced in early-2020, with mediations between a delegation of Oregon timberland owners and conservation groups, with Roseburg Forest Products playing a major role. It took almost two years for the group to reach an agreement on 30th October, 2021. The agreement was codified into state law, by way of passing of three bills that emerged from the PFA.
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The signatories to the PFA include 11 industry companies and the Oregon Small Woodlands Association along with 13 conservation groups.
Further to the agreement, the state needs to seek federal approval for a 50-year Habitat Conservation Plan that will cover all 10 million acres of private forests in Oregon. Also, it marks significant compromise for Roseburg and other private timberland owners in the state. It will reduce the amount of timber that can be harvested. In addition, landowners must provide $5 million per year in funding for aquatic conservation efforts, alongside creating new protections for salmon habitat