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Department of Forestry: Agency Subdivisions
This building at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. It is one of 13 buildings at the headquarters. (Oregon State Archives Photo)
Board of Forestry
Contact: John Blackwell, Chair
Phone: 503-945-7205
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 526
Duties and Responsibilities: The Board of Forestry is a seven-member citizen board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The board’s duty is to represent the public interest. No more than three members of the board may receive any significant portion of their income from the forest products industry. At least one member must reside in each of the three major forest regions of the state.
The Board of Forestry oversees all matters of forest policy within the state. Additionally, the board appoints the state forester, adopts rules regulating forest practices and other forestry programs, and provides general supervision of the state forester’s duties. Thus, the board supervises many actions related to the sustainable management of Oregon’s forests. The board does not limit its scope to state or private forestlands. Its policies and leadership are designed to include federal lands and to have a positive influence over all of the state’s 27.5 million acres of forests.
The board periodically develops a strategic plan called the Forestry Program for Oregon (FPFO). The FPFO describes the Board of Forestry’s guidance to the state forester, the Legislature, the governor and the public on matters of forest policy and the use of sound forest management. With nearly 45 percent of Oregon’s land base covered by forests, the successful implementation of this vision can profoundly affect the lives of all Oregonians.
Committee for Family Forestlands (CFF)
Address: 2600 State St, Salem 97310
Phone: 503-945-7482
Contact: Peter Daugherty, Private Forests Deputy Chief
Statutory Authority: ORS 526.016
Duties & Responsibilities: The Committee is comprised of 10 members appointed by the Board of Forestry; three are ex-officio (non-voting) members. Voting members serve three-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms. Committee members closely monitor the effects of policy changes and other actions that affect family forestland owners and help develop policy, as necessary. They also help define the role family forestland owners play in sustaining Oregon's forests, restoring salmon, and improving watersheds and the availability of timber.
County Forestland Classification Committees
Address: 2600 State St., Salem 97310
Phone: 503-945-7205
Contact: Paul Bell, Fire Protection Division Chief
Statutory Authority: ORS 526.305–526.350
Duties and Responsibilities: Each county may establish a County Forestland Classification Committee of five persons, one appointed by the state forester, one by the director of the Oregon State University Extension Service and three by the county governing body. At least one member must be an owner of forestland and at least one an owner of grazing land. These committees are charged with investigating forestlands to determine how the lands are to be classified. The classifications are used by the Board of Forestry and the state forester in administering all of Oregon’s forest and fire laws, promoting the primary use for which that land is classified. Class 1 includes all forestland primarily suitable for timber production, Class 2 includes all forestland suitable for joint timber and livestock grazing, and Class 3 includes all forestland suitable primarily for grazing and other agricultural uses.
The committee must hold public hearings before final classifications and reclassification. Appeals by landowners may be taken to the circuit court. When no classification of forestland is made by a committee, the state forester may make this determination.
Emergency Fire Cost Committee
Address: 2600 State St., Salem 97310
Phone: 503-945-7449
Contact: Tim Keith, Fund Administrator
Statutory Authority: ORS 477.750
Duties and Responsibilities: The Emergency Fire Cost Committee supervises and controls the distribution of monies from the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund which was established for emergency firefighting expenditures in controlling forest fires. Four members are appointed to the committee by the State Board of Forestry to serve four-year terms.
Forest Resource Trust
Advisory Committee
Address: 2600 State St., Salem 97310
Phone: 503-945-7478
Contact: Jim Cathcart
Statutory Authority: ORS 526.700
Duties and Responsibilities: The Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee was established in 1993. The Forest Resource Trust provides funds for financial, technical and related assistance to private non-industrial forest landowners. This assistance is used for timber stand establishment and improved management of forestlands for timber production as well as for wildlife, water quality and other environmental purposes. The Board of Forestry has responsibility for managing the trust. The committee assists the board in setting policy for the best use and investment of funds available to the trust and otherwise assisting board members in carrying out trustee duties. The state forester is responsible for implementing board policies and trust programs.
Forest Trust Land
Advisory Committee
Address: 2600 State St., Salem 97310
Phone: 503-945-7204
Contact: Peter Daugherty, Private Forests Division Chief
Statutory Authority: ORS 530.010–530.170
Duties and Responsibilities: The 1987 Legislature established the Forest Trust Land Advisory
Committee to advise the State Board of Forestry and the state forester on the management of lands subject to the provisions of statutes and on
other matters in which the counties may have a
responsibility pertaining to forestland. The
committee is composed of the Board of Directors of the Council of Forest Trust Land Counties. The
council represents the 15 state/county forest trust land counties in policy matters related to the
management of the forestlands and distribution of revenues produced from those lands.
Regional Forest Practice Committees
Address: 2600 State St., Salem 97310
Phone: 503-945-7482
Contact: Peter Daugherty, Private Forests Deputy Chief
Statutory Authority: ORS 527.650
Duties and Responsibilities: The Northwest Oregon, Southwest Oregon and Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practice Committees make recommendations to the Board of Forestry on forest practice rules appropriate to the forest conditions in their regions. The Board of Forestry appoints nine members to each committee, to serve three-year terms.