We did it! On March 3 2021 Oregon State Senators voted to confirm our three recommended nominees to the Board of Forestry

Thank you for standing up for climate!
Find out more about what is next for the 350PDX Forest Defense team and get involved here.
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Action Page Archive:

The Oregon Board of Forestry makes important decisions on the management of private timberlands and state forests, influencing community drinking water, ecological integrity, and climate change.

In the coming weeks the Oregon Senate will have the opportunity to confirm three candidates to the seven-member Board of Forestry.

This is a rare opportunity to influence our politicians to shift the composition of the board.

Take action with us. Use the tool on the right to send an email to your State Senator asking they approve the three proposed candidates to the Board of Forestry.

Who are the nominees?

• Karla Chambers, the co-owner of Stahlbush Island Farms, a board member at Hampton Lumber, and a member of the wildfire preparedness council the Brown appointed in Jan. 2019
• Chandra Ferrari, an environmental lawyer, most recently with Trout Unlimited
• Benjamin Deumling, the president of Salem-based Zena Forest Products. His family’s company owns 1,300 acres of hardwood forest west of Salem and runs a mill that produces sustainable hardwood flooring and lumber

Read more in our press release here.

Call your senator
Calling is even more effective than email!.

Here’s what to talk about:

• State your name and address, and that you are their constituent.
• "The Governor's office has recently sent a slate of 3 Board of Forestry nominees to the Senate Rules Committee. I ask you to ensure that these nominees are confirmed because [choose from points below:]
•     - The Board of Forestry has been dominated by the timber industry for decades.
•     - The Oregon Department of Forestry has continually failed to take concrete action on its longstanding mandate to increase forest carbon storage; a better Board of Forestry is needed to make the Oregon Department of Forestry take action.
•     - The Board has not taken strong action to protect rural communities’ drinking water. 
•     - Better forest policy can help fight climate change, which affects all Oregonians, so the Board of Forestry’s decisions affect all Oregonians. 
•     - Confirming this slate of nominees will result in a more balanced Board of Forestry, more likely to make the bold changes necessary at the Oregon Department of Forestry to move towards climate-smart forestry."

Background:

The Board of Forestry is a seven member citizen board whose mission is to “lead Oregon in implementing policies and programs that promote sustainable management of Oregon’s public and private forests.” The Board is critical to the shape of forestry and forest carbon storage in Oregon. They appoint and supervise the State Forester, who manages the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). They also manage five of the six state forests, totaling around 640,000 acres.

Board members are nominated by the Governor. If nominees are approved by the State Senate Rules and Executive Appointments Committee, the state Senate votes on these nominees for appointment. 

Read our full letter of demands here.