Brand O: Oregon Seeks Statewide Certification

The Oregon Department of Forestry has signed a $60,000 contract with the nonprofit Pinchot Institute for Conservation to determine whether all forests in the state-private, state and federal-could be environmentally certified.

Certification could be used as a selling point, setting Oregon's timber apart by officially recognizing the state's Forest Practices Act and other environmental laws. By regulating logging on both public and private lands. officials believe these statewide regulations mandate many of the same requirements as certification.

A voluntary state-wide certification program would help even small landowners enjoy the benefits of certification at lower cost.

"It's not being driven by regulation; it's being driven by the marketplace," said Rick Fletcher, an Oregon State University forester. "You could say we've done the right thing for people and we've done the right thing for the environment as far as laws," said Fletcher. "But we haven't done the right thing to make ourselves competitive in the marketplace."

Large retailers such as Home DePot and Lowe's like the green image of certified lumber, as do other large timber buyers. Officials believe that if private landowners can sell their timber more profitably, they won't be tempted to replace their forests with housing or other development.

Oregon was the first state to enact forest practices law. but environmentalists say the rules don't do enough to protect wildlife and water quality and are less stringent than similar rules in California and Washington. The timber industry maintains that Oregon's standards are tougher than elsewhere in the U.S. and the world.

State officials hope to identify how state rules compare with certification requirements. If the state rules fall short, said forester Marvin Brown, the state might help landowners who want to meet the higher standards and become certified.

Oregon's industrial forests are already certified by an industry pro- gram called the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Environmental groups prefer the Forest Stewardship Council's stricter certification Program. Participation in either program can be costly, since landowners must pay for outside assessments of individual forest properties. Plus, Oregon officials want a statewide approach.

Officials are looking at the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, which was developed in Europe. One of the fastest growing certification programs in the world, PEFC requires environmentally sustainable practices that protect wildlife, prevent erosion, and support local communities. Forests in 18 countries have met these standards and can use the PEFC logo on their wood.

The question is whether PEFC would certify forests in a state rather than an entire countrY, said David Morman, forest resources Planning program director at the Oregon Department of Forestry. The main goal, he said, is to gain recognition for Oregon forest practices.

"In many parts of the world," Morman said, "forest certification is part of the way of doing business and to a great extent is expected."

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