Oregon Board of Forestry, March 9

The Oregon Board of Forestry will receive an update on work to restore health to federal forests, and a progress report on a review of the state’s Fire Protection Program when it meets March 9 in Salem. Recipients of the 2015 Forest Practices Operator of the Year award will also be recognized for their efforts to protect forest resources and ecosystem values. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s State Forests Division will also provide an update to the board on current state forests management planning topics. The meeting is open to the public, and a public comment period is on the agenda. The meeting will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Tillamook Room, Administration Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St., in Salem. Agenda materials will be available prior to the meeting at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/BOFMeetings.aspx Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the Department’s Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours in advance, at 503-945-7200. Executive session: For agenda item 10, scheduled for later in the afternoon, the board will meet in executive session to consult with legal counsel on topics related to pending litigation. The session will be closed to the public, in accordance with Oregon Revised Statute 192.660(2)(h). The Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include appointing the State Forester, setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30 million-acre forestland base. More information on the board is available at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/AboutBOF.aspx .