Oregon Department of Forestry Begins Implementing 20-Year Landscaping Resiliency Strategy

On Thursday, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced that it and its local, state, and federal partners have started implementing the 20-year Landscaping Resiliency Strategy (LRS).

According to the press release, the strategy prioritizes areas at high risk for wildfires. Through mid-2025, the three programs—paid for by the state’s General Fund—will invest about $14 million in local, state, federal, and private partners’ projects. The investments will expedite work on over 100,000 acres. The partners will implement these landscape resiliency strategy projects to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.

As 2024 continues, ODF builds on prior investments. This means leading partner work to reduce wildfire risk, which includes creating wildfire buffers around communities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). To do some of this work, ODF has 13 programs that leverage 27 funding sources. The three state-funded programs are the LRS, Small Forestland Grant Program, and Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program.

Commenting on the LRS, State Forester Cal Mukumoto said:

“The state’s leaders have seen how strategic forestry investments can leverage state funds to reduce wildfire risk, bolster the economy, and protect water sources. Thoughtful planning makes this happen; that’s what ODF does. Today we’re highlighting some strategic investment vehicles—the Landscape Resiliency, Small Forestland Grant, and Federal Forest Restoration Programs.”

The LRS funds large projects across property ownerships to prioritize work that provides value to nearby communities. The 2023–25 $10 million investment will help improve wildlands and reduce wildfire risk on about 29,000 acres.