NewsLines timber, fiber, or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit.” “These studies build on the scientific literature that consistently shows existing regulations are working as intended to ensure biomass is responsibly sourced in the U.S. Southeast to provide a positive impact on the climate and the environment,” says Amandine Muskus, Executive Director at USIPA. “Woody biomass critics often argue that wood pellet production in the U.S. Southeast reduces carbon stocks and creates a carbon debt that accelerates climate change. However, there is no published research that has been subjected to the rigors of independent peer review that supports these claims. Indeed, they are directly refuted by the weight of empirical scientific evidence.”
OFIC: Oregon Must Overhaul Timber Plan Oregon’s proposed Forest Habitat Conservation Plan by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) for manag-
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ing 600,000 acres of state forests needs to be overhauled due to inaccurate data and the plan’s impact on communities and forest health, according to the Oregon Forest Industries Council, a trade group representing forestland owners and forest products manufacturers. The biggest concern is an almost 30% reduction in state timber harvests scheduled for the next two years that’s part of the proposed habitat conservation plan that will manage the state’s forests for the next 70 years. Despite state officials saying harvests would average close to 250MMBF annually over time, county officials are worried the reduction would stay in place, drastically reducing the contribution state timber revenues make to local governments. Ironically, such a reduced harvest will also hit the ODF with big budget reductions. Their main concern was that ODF originally said its plan would allow the harvest of 250 million board feet of timber annually but has revised it to 173.5 million board feet for the next two years. Counties are worried that amount
would stay in place over seven decades, reducing by $30 million revenue per biennium for ODF’s budget and more for counties that depend on it. County officials say they want the Oregon Board of Forestry to reject the plan and return to the drawing board. They said the ODF budgets take hit. decline in revenue would lead to the need for the Legislature to fund ODF’s critical duties, including firefighting.
Red Rock Biofuels Is Up For Auction The Red Rock Biofuels sustainable aviation fuel facility (with woody biomass as its feedstock) under construction in Lakeview, Ore. is for sale, following the recording of a notice of default and foreclosure as placed by the lender and trustee.
TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS
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