The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) and the Eastern Oregon Counties Association (EOCA) have moved to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s “Eastside Screens” Amendment that affects forest management on six national forests in Eastern Oregon, including the Malheur, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, Deschutes, Ochoco, and Fremont-Winema. In June 2022, six anti-forestry groups […]
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September 2022 Newsletter
Washington DC Update Senate hearing on forestry, public lands bills Congress Passes Continuing Resolution Two Beaverhead-Deerlodge Projects Moving Forward BLM Timber Salvage Wrap-up The AFRC Podcast: CalForests’ Matt Dias- A comprehensive approach to fighting wildfires Anti-Forestry Groups Settle Archie Creek Salvage Project Update on DNR Carbon Project, Agency Opens Brief Public Comment Period Cottonwood Threatens […]
Washington Board of Natural Resources Should Reject Bully Tactics Over Management of State Trust Lands
Beneficiaries of Washington state trust lands urged the Board of Natural Resources (BNR) to follow the State Supreme Court’s opinion in Conservation Northwest v. Commissioner of Public Lands and meet its obligations to continue managing these working forests to fund critical public services. Representatives of the beneficiary community sent a letter to the BNR as […]
Oregon’s Rum Creek Fire Reveals Risks of New Wilderness Proposals
As of this writing, the Rum Creek Fire in southwest Oregon has burned nearly 12,000 acres along the iconic Rogue River northwest of Grants Pass. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared an emergency as “Level 3 – Go Now” evacuations are in place for homes near the rural communities of Rand and Galice. The fire […]
August 2022 Newsletter
AFRC Submits Comments on Federal Old Growth and Mature Forests The AFRC Podcast: FFRC’s Bill Imbergamo- Defining “Old Growth” when our forests are burning Oregon’s Rum Creek Fire Reveals Risks of New Wilderness Proposals Washington DC Update Inflation Reduction Act Washington Primary Election Results McMorris Rogers and Westerman Visit Northeast Washington DTO Report: Build-up of […]
July 2022 Newsletter
Washington DC Update Appropriations U.S. Senate ENR Committee Mark-Up Cottonwood River Democracy Act Root and Stem Project Authorization Act DeFazio Rogue Wilderness, National Recreation Area Legislation Must Read: Why timber is essential to the Biden Administration’s wildfire strategy The AFRC Podcast: Kent Duysen- Saving Our Sequoias and Southern Sierra Forests Forest Service, BLM Respond to […]
MYTH vs. FACT: Washington State Supreme Court Affirms DNR Trust Mandate
On July 21, 2022, the Washington State Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Conservation Northwest v. Franz affirming the trust mandate that applies to Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state trust lands. This is a major legal victory for DNR, public schools, counties, and many other community service providers, and the forest products sector. […]
Washington State Supreme Court Affirms DNR Management of State Trust Forest Lands
The American Forest Resource Council today joined beneficiaries of Washington state trust lands in applauding the Washington State Supreme Court’s opinion in Conservation Northwest v. Hilary Franz, a case where Conservation Northwest attempted to undermine the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) fiduciary duty to manage these working forests, known as state trust lands. The […]
AFRC Responds to ‘Climate Forests Campaign’ Report
AFRC has the following to say regarding a report by the “Climate Forests Campaign,” an anti-forestry effort to halt forest management throughout the nation: Old and mature trees are not “worth more standing” if they are dead and emitting carbon. This “report” by anti-forestry lobbyists was released at the same time firefighters are working […]
Why timber is essential to the Biden Administration’s wildfire strategy
By Travis Joseph, AFRC President The Forest Service and BLM timber sale programs are essential to preserving and growing the physical and human forest infrastructure that is not only critical to providing carbon-friendly wood products to meet society’s needs but is essential to helping the Forest Service and BLM accomplish their respective federal forest management […]