Title 44, Forestry and Forest Products

The State Forestry Department shall report outcomes from all projects pursued in this state under the Good Neighbor Authority Agreement described in ORS 526.275. No later than December 31 of every even-numbered year, the department shall submit the report, in the manner provided …

The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: (1) Forestlands in federal, state and private ownership comprise some of the most important environmental, economic and recreational resources in the State of Oregon. However, federal lands, and to a lesser extent state and privat…

In furtherance of the policy established in ORS 526.277, the State Forester shall: (1) Establish a policy of active and inclusive communication with the federal government, public bodies as defined in ORS 174.109, residents of Oregon and interested parties regarding the utilizati…

Notwithstanding ORS 530.059, the State Forester may enter into contracts under ORS 530.050 to provide a supply of woody biomass from forestlands managed by the State Forestry Department as needed to facilitate the development of projects, including but not limited to bioenergy pr…

As used in ORS 526.287 to 526.299 and 526.991: (1) “Large commercial event”: (a) Means a gathering that: (A) Has an organizer; (B) Is held for the purpose of a shared or common activity or experience; (C) Has more than 50 participating individuals or more than 15 motor vehicles o…

The Legislative Assembly finds that: (1) State forestlands are especially vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled gatherings of persons at large commercial events; and (2) To avoid detriment to the best interest of the state it is necessary to protect the health of state forest…

(1) An organizer may not organize, hold or sponsor a large commercial event on state forestland unless the organizer holds a large commercial event permit issued by the State Forestry Department. (2) A permit issued under this section does not entitle an organizer to make any per…

(1) The State Forestry Department may adopt rules establishing health and safety standards for large commercial events held on state forestlands. The department shall consult with the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Environmental Quality prior to establishing health…

The State Forestry Department may suspend or revoke a large commercial event permit if: (1) An emergency, significant law enforcement problem, substantial threat to public safety or welfare or substantial threat to public property arises from, or is likely to affect, event activi…

An organizer may not recklessly allow a person to violate the terms and conditions of a large commercial event permit held by the organizer. As used in this section, “recklessly” has the meaning given that term in ORS 161.085. [2015 c.713 §6] Note: See note under 526.287. FORESTL…

As used in ORS 526.305 to 526.370, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Committee” means a forestland classification committee. (2) “Governing body” means the board of county commissioners or county court of a county, as the case may be. [1965 c.253 §33; 2009 c.69 §3]

(1) Pursuant to a request by the State Forester: (a) The governing body of a county may establish a forestland classification committee of six persons, of whom one shall be appointed by the State Forester, one by the Director of the Oregon State University Extension Service, one …

Upon establishment of a forestland classification committee under ORS 526.310, the committee shall periodically investigate and study all land within the boundaries of its county or counties and determine which of the land is forestland. Such determination shall take into conside…

(1) Upon the basis of its investigation and determination under ORS 526.320, a committee shall assign all forestland within the boundaries of its county or counties and within a forest protection district to one of the following classifications: (a) Class 1, timber class, include…

(1) The committee shall hold a public hearing within the boundaries of its county or within the boundaries of each of its counties at the time and place stated in the notice published under ORS 526.324 (2), or at such other time and place as the hearing may then be adjourned to, …

(1) Any owner of land classified under ORS 526.328 or 526.340 who is aggrieved by the classification may, within 30 days after the date of the order making the classification, appeal to the circuit court for the county in which the property is located. If the forestland classific…

The State Board of Forestry may adopt rules as necessary to implement ORS 526.305 to 526.340. [2009 c.69 §11]

(1) The State Forester may identify and classify forestland in a county, consistent with ORS 526.324 and 526.328, if: (a) The governing body of a county has failed to establish a forestland classification committee within two years after the State Forester made a request under OR…

(1) All forest laws relating to forestland classified pursuant to ORS 526.328 or 526.340, and all rules promulgated under such laws, shall be so administered as best to promote the primary use for which that land is classified. Any contract by the State Board of Forestry or the S…

(1) The State Board of Forestry, the State Forester and forest protective associations may assist to the extent practical in developing, for forestry, grazing or agricultural uses, lands within a forest protection district, as described in ORS 477.205 to 477.281, for such uses, i…

(1) The forester may, as a condition precedent to supervising of any burning as provided in ORS 526.360, require the owner or the agent of the owner in control of the land involved to agree in writing to seed properly the land over which the burning operation is to be conducted, …

(1) In each biennium, the State Forestry Department shall apply an offset against the annual costs of fire protection provided by the department for forestland that is: (a) Classified as Class 3 under ORS 526.324; and (b) Located within a forest protection district. (2) The depar…

(1) The Small Forestland Owner Assistance Office is created within the State Forestry Department. (2) The office shall: (a) Support and promote implementation of financial incentives and technical assistance programs for small forestland owners that align with the intent of the P…

(1) The State Board of Forestry shall adopt by rule a Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program. (2) The purpose of the program is to provide grants to certain small forestland owners to fund projects that: (a) Result in environmental benefits to fish species addresse…

(1) The Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program Fund is established, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program Fund shall be credited to the fund. (2) Moneys in the fund are continuously…

The State Board of Forestry shall adopt the rules described in ORS 526.400, 526.402 and 527.738 as part of the rule package described in ORS 527.711. [2022 c.33 §20] Note: 526.406 is repealed only if certain conditions are met. See sections 54 and 60 to 64, chapter 33, Oregon Law…

Recognizing that nonindustrial private forests make a vital contribution to Oregon by providing jobs, products, tax base and other social and economic benefits, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of the State of Oregon to encourage management of nonindustrial private f…

ORS 315.104, 318.031 and 526.450 to 526.475 may be cited as the “Woodland Management Act of 1979.” [1979 c.578 §1] Note: The amendments to 526.450 by section 5, chapter 883, Oregon Laws 2007, become operative January 2, 2028. See section 10, chapter 883, Oregon Laws 2007, as amen…

As used in ORS 315.104, 318.031 and 526.450 to 526.475, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Approved forest management practice” means and includes site preparation, tree planting, precommercial thinning, release, fertilization, animal damage control, insect and disease m…

(1) The State of Oregon recognizes that the forest makes a vital contribution to Oregon. Economic benefits provided include a large tax base, substantial employment and wood products for a world market. The environmental benefits include maintenance of a forest cover and soil, ai…

The purpose of ORS 315.104, 318.031 and 526.450 to 526.475 is to encourage long term forestry investments that lead to increased management of Oregon’s forestlands by: (1) Providing the forest owner with tax relief during the timber growth period. (2) Promoting programs that prov…

(1) A state forest tree seed bank may be operated by the State Forester and the State Board of Forestry to provide forest tree seed for the raising of forest tree seedlings suitable for reforestation. Such tree seed bank is to provide for the research and development, production,…

(1) A state forest tree seed orchard may be operated by the State Forester and the State Board of Forestry to produce high quality forest tree seed suitable for reforestation. The purposes of the state forest tree seed orchard are to: (a) Grow, care for and maintain seed orchard …

(1) Any owner affected by a determination of the State Forester made under ORS 315.104, 318.031 and 526.450 to 526.475 may appeal to the State Board of Forestry under such rules as it may adopt. An appeal to set aside any decision of the board with respect to ORS 315.104 or 318.0…

(1) It is the policy of the State of Oregon to encourage the afforestation of idle land for the purpose of establishing commercial forests if such afforestation is consistent with landowner objectives. The purpose of this section is to provide an incentive for afforestation by pr…

As used in ORS 526.500 to 526.515, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Urban forest” means the area in and around a city that contains trees and associated plant and animal life. The area may be public or private and may include single trees, small groups of trees or tree…

Trees not only are important to the economic and environmental well-being of Oregon, but also represent a significant component of the quality of life for urban residents. As a matter of policy, it is important to promote and protect the human habitat values that accrue from a he…

(1) The State Forestry Department shall provide technical assistance to cities, counties, other governmental units, nonprofit and civic organizations and other groups interested in planting and caring for trees in communities. Technical assistance may include, but is not limited …

(1) The State Forestry Department may receive and disburse such gifts, grants, bequests, federal moneys and endowments and donations of labor, material, seedlings, trees and equipment from public and private sources for the purpose of conducting an urban and community forestry pr…

(1) The State Forestry Department shall acquire and maintain a statewide urban tree canopy assessment tool. (2) The assessment tool must provide geospatial mapping that includes: (a) A visualization of urban tree canopies, viewable at the census tract level; (b) Community demogra…

As used in ORS 526.600 to 526.675, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Institute” means the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. (2) “Producer” means a producer of forest products and includes any person, partnership, association, corporation, cooperative or other business …

The State of Oregon recognizes that the forest products industry is one of the largest industries in the state. It provides monetary returns to labor, forestland owners, mill owners and operators, public timber purchasers, timber harvesters, investors and others. It is a source o…

There is created the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. The institute shall be governed by a board of directors appointed by the State Forester. In making the appointments, the State Forester shall take into consideration any nominations or recommendations made to the State Fores…

Except as provided in ORS 526.610 (5), each voting member of the board of directors of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute shall have the following qualifications: (1) Be a citizen of the United States. (2) Be a bona fide resident of this state. (3) Be a producer in this state,…

Each voting member of the board of directors of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute shall be appointed for a term ending three years from the date of the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed. If there is a vacancy on the board of a voting memb…

(1) The State Forester shall immediately declare the office of any member of the board of directors of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute vacant whenever the member becomes a resident of another state or is unable to perform the duties of office. In addition, the State Foreste…

Directors, officers and employees of the institute may receive their actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The board of directors shall adopt uniform and reasonable rules governing the incurring and paying of such exp…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, wages or salaries of employees of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute are not subject to personnel compensation plans for state employees established by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services under ORS 240.235 to 240.250. [1…

(1) The board of directors annually shall elect a chairperson. (2) The board of directors shall meet regularly at least once each quarter, and at such other times as called by the chairperson. [1991 c.949 §10]

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute shall enhance and provide support for Oregon’s forest products industry. In achieving these objectives the institute may: (1) Increase public understanding of the practice of forestry and the use and benefits of forest products. (2) Support e…