Tell Oregon Officials to Advance Protections for Our State Forests

The proposed habitat conservation plan for state forests would provide significant, durable forest protections for six wild salmon and steelhead strongholds: the Wilson, Salmonberry, Nehalem, Miami, Trask, and Kilchis Rivers. It would also put 50 percent of the total forest in conservation for the next 70 years.

The plan, driven by extensive public input, represents a workable compromise that balances timber harvest with fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and clean water. But there are strong voices from timber companies and timber-aligned politicians to reject the Habitat Conservation Plan and prioritize timber harvest over all other values.

Talking Points

• Urge the Board of Forestry to advance the Western Oregon Forests Habitat Conservation Plan
• Support the staff recommendation to “finalize the administrative draft of the HCP and move into the NEPA process.”
• Let the Board of Forestry know that you support durable habitat protections for imperiled species such as salmon, steelhead, Marbled Murrelets and Spotted Owls and a Habitat Conservation Plan is the best way to accomplish this objective.
• A Habitat Conservation Plan is the best way forward to achieve multiple values including species conservation, clean water, recreation and sustainable predictable harvest.
• Thank ODF for its work on this plan and strongly urge them to complete the work.

Learn More

Learn more about the plan at these links from Oregon Department of Forestry:

• Oregon Department of Forestry webpage on SFHCP
• Map of all forests covered by this plan
• Maps of proposed Habitat Conservation Areas

A vote to advance the plan on October 6^th is not the end of the process. The plan will need to be refined, finalized and adopted. However the vote on October 6^th will either keep this important plan moving forward or perpetuate unsustainable logging practices. It is time to move forward.