The way that Forest Trust Lands are managed is important to Trust Land Counties. The Council of Forest Trust Land Counties (CFTLC) is organization of the 15 counties that have Forest Trust Lands within their jurisdictions. CFTLC counties include: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Douglas, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, and Washington. Paramount to CFTLC is ensuring Forest Trust Lands are actively managed. Sound management practices lead to high forest production, in turn, building strong communities, robust local economies, and providing critical public services. Revenues from timber harvest on Forest Trust Lands support education, public safety, special districts, and other services. In order to ensure best practice in management, CFTLC supports keeping options open for forest management.

On April 2, a public hearing was held on a bill to ban aerial spray of pesticides on state forestlands. The bill, SB 926 is opposed by CFTLC. Aerial pesticide application is used as a safe, effective tool for management. In application, precautionary measures such as monitoring wind and weather conditions are taken to ensure pesticides do not drift to unintended areas. This tool has been successful in controlling and eradicating invasive species including gypsy moths and vegetation competing with young seedlings during reforestation.

Commissioner David Yamamoto (Tillamook County), CFTLC Chair and Commissioner John Sweet (Coos County), CTFLC Vice-Chair testified in opposition to the bill. In their testimony, Commissioners Yamamoto and Sweet discussed the importance of active forest management and impacts on local economy including including the family wage jobs the timber industry provides. It was also noted that removing the option to use aerial spray for management would take a key tool out of the forest management toolbox, and would result in increased cost to forest management and reduction in timber harvest, ultimately bringing a devastating blow to rural economies.

The bill is scheduled for a work session on April 4.

To watch Commissioners Yamamoto and Sweet testify, click here.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate