Oregon State Senate Votes to Approve Private Forest Accord Compromise Legislation

By a vote of 22-5, the Oregon State Senate voted on Tuesday (3-2-22) in favor of Senate Bill 1501, the Private Forest Accord compromise, which was negotiated by the Oregon Timber and environmental groups and establishes new logging standards.

The 44-page bill expands no-harvest buffers around streams, implements stricter requirements for roadbuilding, prioritizes non-lethal control of beavers and creates a new modeling system to avoid and mitigate the effects of landslides.

The legislation is expected to set the stage for a federal Habitat Conservation Plan for the state’s private forests, which would shield landowners from liability under the Endangered Species Act when harvesting trees.

In commenting on the legislation Chris Edwards, president of the Oregon Forest & Industries Council said, “At its core, the Private Forest Accord is about protecting a future for forestry in Oregon. It’s also about turning the page on the timber wars of the past.”

Under the agreement, small forestland owners are subject to less rigorous logging restrictions in recognition of their tendency to grow trees on a longer rotation cycle.

Small woodlands owners who choose to manage their properties under the standards required for larger landowners would be eligible for tax credits under a companion bill.