Protecting Eastside Forests, Creating Rural Jobs
For decades, Oregon timber companies and environmental groups have fought over Oregon's eastside forests. Just recently, Senator Ron Wyden negotiated a historic compromise that could end years of conflict, put Oregonians back to work, and restore the health of our forests.
Wyden's Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act brought these timber companies and environmental groups together with a common purpose: protect Oregon's natural beauty while creating much-needed jobs in forest management.
The bill is receiving praise across Oregon. Just take a look:
“A crucial agreement that means healthier forests, survival for the dwindling number of eastside lumber mills and hundreds of jobs for struggling rural Oregon communities.”
The La Grande Observer called the bill "a step in the right direction" and noted it could "reduce some of the pain" faced by the timber industry.
“Sen. Ron Wyden's deal for Eastern Oregon forests … offers rare hope for lifting the stalemate over Oregon's embattled eastside forests."
"Wyden’s plan needs and deserves the strong support of every member of the state’s delegation. If it fails, it may be years before another plan surfaces that offers a realistic hope of bringing peace to Oregon’s forests."
“It is the closest thing to a lifeline that Eastern Oregon's fire-prone forests and struggling communities have had in years.”
"For hard-hit counties, like Crook County, the bill’s passage could mean a boost in local logging jobs from large-scale forest restoration projects. In counties with operating sawmills, the increase in saw logs would create a need for more mill workers."
“Support Wyden Forestry Efforts”
Noted Oregon environmental advocate Andy Kerr has said that Wyden's plan finds "common ground" on a thorny issue. Tom Partin, President of the American Forest Resource Council, called the effort "an important part of the overall effort" in combining forest protections and job creation.
"Oregonians rightly wondered if this day would ever come, but thanks to the good faith and extraordinary perseverance of these fine men and women, timber and environmental interests are today standing side by side to move beyond decades of confrontation and improve forests and create jobs," Wyden said. "The road ahead to enacting this bill may be difficult, but when longtime adversaries demonstrate that they can sit together and find common ground, there is hope for a better tomorrow for Oregon."
Senator Wyden's legislation covers 8.3 million acres of forestland in six national forests east of Oregon's Cascades. The effort represents more than a year-and-a-half of work and is the byproduct of a historic agreement negotiated by the Senator, between timber companies and environmental groups that had been at war for three decades.
"There is no better way to restore our forests and jobs in some of the hardest-hit counties in our state than to increase the Forest Service budget for forest restoration," said Wyden. "It will be a top priority for me."
