07/13/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mike Beyerle of the Oregon Forestry Department was present to discuss the effects of the "Beuter Report". He said that work on the report began in 1969 when national declines were predicted in timber supplies. e The Forestry Board had begun to recognize the ground swell of local concerns and public meetings were subsequently held around the state to have concerns expressed. The consensus of those meetings was that there was a national concern about timber supplies and about danger to the environment. In order to get a firm handle on the matter, the Board asked Oregon State University to prepare an assessment, which resulted in the "Beuter Report". The report describes what will happen if present trends continue. It shows alternatives to present practices including two different harvesting techniques and different management strategies. Mr. Beyerly said the report confirms that a timber supply shortage could exist before the year 2,000. He added that most of the fall-off is the result of the fact that the forest industry has been harvesting timber at a faster rate than the inventory will support in the long run. The industry has been responding to demand. Mr. Bradley arrived. Mr. Beyerly continued that a 22 percent decline could be expected by 1985. That decline could have serious consequences, he said. He did note that a bright spot not contained in the "Beuter Report" is that, as those lands being harvested now are available for reforestration and that the industry recognizes high levels of intensive forest manage- ment are in its best interest. Many dollars can be put into, stocking, thinning, etc. - In answer to a question from Mr. Delay on the long-run sustained yield level for federal lands, Mr. Beyerly said there is an obliga- tion under the National Forest Act to harvest on an even-flow basis, meaning that, in future decades, they can harvest no less than what is currently being harvested. Because old growth remains and takes a long time to convert to more productive stands, they lock that up, preventing a productive capacity from attaining an early high level. Mr. Delay noted some talk about hardwoods being trashed and wondered if there could be more efficient utilization. Mr. Beyerly said they have found that a high utilization factor has been programmed relative to all species. Mr. Keller wondered if there was a forecast on non- productive lands. Mr. Beyerly said that they do use a value for that. He said that state-wide approximately seven percent of forest ownership is underproductive because of brush or non-stocked backlog. Mr. Ke 11 e r asked for a comparison to the private sector. Mr. Beyerly said that non-industrial private ownership shows about 25 to 28 percent in an underproductive state. On industrial, they show 20 percent of their lands in the non-stocked or underproductive state. Mr. Hamel wondered if the non-industrial areas were farm lands, to which Mr. Beyerly responded that that was partially true. He said that for the most part it is land that has been harvested gradually over a period of time when there were few laws that would facilitate restocking. He added that it is important to watch as shifts are made, how the entire economy adjusts to the timber decline. . 7/13/77--2 / 5b3 /