An Oregon Department of Forestry division that oversees state forestlands has published an annual report of management accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2015. Highlights include a total of $54.9 million distributed to county governments and taxing districts, collected from timber sales on state-owned forests; more than 5,000 acres—-or nearly a million trees—-of forestland replanted; and nearly 50,000 campers hosted at ODF campgrounds. The report, published each fiscal year, summarizes on-the-ground operations for the ODF State Forests Division, providing a recap of timber sales and revenue distribution, conservation and forest health activities, and recreation use, including popularity and number of visitors, among other statistics. “People interact with and prioritize forest values differently. Under Oregon law, we manage state forests to provide a sustainable variety of benefits over time for all Oregonians. I’m proud of the story that this report tells, highlighting both challenges and opportunities, and an array of accomplishments that we deliver daily,” said Liz Dent, chief of the ODF State Forests Division. Other highlights of the report include: * 30,846 hours contributed by State Forests Division staff to support wildfire operations. * 258.9 million board feet of timber provided through management activities. * $181,864 generated in campground revenues via 47,393 campers visiting state forest-managed campgrounds. Since 2008, $1.1 million has been generated. * 2.4 miles of fish access restored in streams and rivers. * 188 miles of trails maintained or restored. * 54,915 visitors to the ODF Tillamook Forest Center. “Because of our diverse management portfolio, collaboration with and between our public partners is critical to help inform our forest management strategies,” continued Dent. “ODF field staff continue to make this great work happen and I can’t thank them enough for their diligence and commitment to healthy working forests.” The ODF State Forests Division manages 706,348 forestland acres for greatest permanent value by law, requiring that these lands produce a range of economic, environmental and social benefits. The division also manages more than 100,000 acres for the Common School Fund, providing revenue for local schools and taxing districts. Each year, public comment opportunities provide a forum for feedback on forest management activities, and formal advisory committees comprising of county representatives and forestry professionals meet regularly to guide this work with the Oregon Board of Forestry. Oregon has six state forests: the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests in northwest Oregon near Astoria and Tillamook; the Santiam State Forest west of Detroit Lake; the Gilchrist and Sun Pass State Forests in south central Oregon; and the Elliott State Forest, owned by the Department of State Lands, and managed by ODF.
