SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry is moving forward with a controversial new Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The plan is meant to help endangered species by protecting almost 700,000 acres of state forest land from logging over the next 70 years.
The decision comes after a series of lawsuits were filed against the state, claiming that Oregon violated the federal Endangered Species Act by destroying vital habitats when parcels of state forest land were sold for logging.
"We need some protection from the lawsuits that do happen," said Jim Kelly, chair of the Oregon Board of Forestry.
The Oregon Board of Forestry voted 4-3 in favor of the plan.
There have been discussions about a state forest plan like this for decades, Kelly said — but time was running out to make a lasting decision. Federal lawsuits, which have been stayed in court, can resume against the state in 2028.
“Most people agree, the concept of an HCP, habitat conservation plan, is a good one,” Kelly said.
However, many in the timber industry argue that the forest plan takes away a vital supply of wood and will result in jobs lost.
"It's a sad day for Oregon," said Chris Edwards, president of the Oregon Forest Industries Council.
The decision will cut state forest timber harvests by more than a third, Edwards said. Kelly disputes those numbers and says that timber harvests in state forests will likely be cut by closer to 20%.
Regardless, there’s concern that some mills may be forced to close. In January, Hampton Lumber decided to close a mill in Banks, Oregon, in preparation for the HCP decision.
A spokesperson for the company said the forest plan will further harm other mills across the state as well, and they wouldn’t be surprised if more mills are forced to close.
"This decision is layered on top of other things that have been really impactful to the sector over the last few years," Edwards said.
Recently, the timber industry has also combated major wildfires, like the devastating events of September 2020, and signed an accord with environmentalists to protect species. The forest plan also comes after hundreds of mills have closed statewide in the past 35 years, although the causes have never been completely clear-cut.
Kelly agrees that there will be consequences of the plan.
"There's nobody who's really wrong in this," he said.
There’s also concerns that the loss in industry will heavily impact the tax revenue for Clatsop and Tillamook counties, which rely heavily on the industry. However, Kelly expects the state legislature and Gov. Tina Kotek to ensure that county budgets, which could be affected by the HCP, are made whole in the next legislative session.
Kelly also added that the Oregon Department of Forestry didn’t have much of a choice in establishing the forest plan, with those stalled lawsuits looming.
“Because this is all about the Endangered Species Act,” he said.
The plan now needs federal input. It is expected to go into effect in late 2024 or the beginning of 2025.