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By Oregonians for Food and Shelter [6]
Governor John Kitzhaber spoke at OFIC’s Annual Meeting earlier this week and announced his latest Executive Order designed to promote Oregon’s wood products and sustainable forest management.
“Oregon is a leader in products that come from sustainably managed forests,” Kitzhaber said in a prepared statement. “Increasing the market for these products helps conserve forests and strengthen surrounding communities, while supporting our broader work to manage forest lands for long-term economic and environmental health.”
The order asks state agencies to play a role in developing and promoting innovative uses of Oregon wood and asks the Oregon Department of Forestry to develop a way to rate wood products on their sustainability credentials.
Kitzhaber also announced his plan to convene a group of county, industry and environmental leaders to come up with a plan to help improve the financial stability of counties affected by the end of federal timber payments.
He’s also asking the group come up with a plan that addresses forest management in those counties that will be presented to the U.S. Congress.