The U.S. Forest Service has designated national forestlands in Central Oregon and elsewhere that are prone to insect infestation, disease outbreaks and massive wildfires, a move that could speed up projects aimed at improving forest health.
“If there is a project that is (focused on) a growing concern, this could expedite that and help the work get done on the ground,” said Dan Postrel, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Forestry. “These are not currently healthy forests,” Postrel said.
Gov. John Kitzhaber requested the designation in April and the agency approved the request in May. Congressional lawmakers made tweaks to the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 in passing this year’s farm bill. The changes allow governors to call for the forest designations, which speeds up environmental review of some projects.
“Insect and disease activity is a natural part of forest succession,” Kitzhaber wrote in his request letter. “But when epidemic levels are reached or outbreaks are no longer isolated, the issue becomes symptomatic of larger forest health concerns.” He wrote that treatment projects should improve forest resilience to insects, disease and fire.
In his request, Kitzhaber commended the ongoing work of forest groups collaborating around the state and said he hopes the designation doesn’t undermine their efforts. The groups bring together diverse stakeholders to help guide the management of national forestland. People involved in such collaboratives are studying the new designation and trying to determine how it relates to their projects, said Phil Chang, program administrator at the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and a member of the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project.
From The Bulletin: https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/2171891-151/new-designation-could-speed-up-forest-projects?entryType=0#