Wyden's Eastern Oregon forest plan could generate jobs, money, Ecotrust says

Legislation could get boost from new report highlighting positive economic impact.

A preliminary analysis says Sen. Ron Wyden's management plan for Eastern Oregon forests could generate 566 to 858 jobs annually just from the initial federal allocation.

The analysis by Ecotrust, a Portland think tank, says a $50 million federal authorization to plan and prepare forest thinning projects also could result in $68 million to $98 million in economic spinoff over three years.

The report comes as Wyden's eastside forest restoration bill heads to a possible U.S. Senate vote later this summer or fall. Proponents say the bill, a compromise worked out by environmental and timber industry groups, would protect old growth forests, reduce fire danger in the woods and provide small-diameter logs to mills.

Wyden, chair of the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said at a hearing this spring that 9 million acres of Eastern Oregon forests are choked with woody debris, at risk of damage from fire, insects and disease and "in desperate need of management." He said the bill is "urgent business" for communities that depend on the forests for jobs.

In its analysis, Ecotrust said the Wyden bill is "largely hailed as a truce" among conservation and timber interests. "The act is a substantial piece of legislation, not just making simple changes, but altering the way of thinking about forest management."

The bill lays out specific protection for old-growth trees and supporting habitat, protects watersheds and sets guidelines to reduce the impact of forest roads, according to the report.

Ecotrust noted that its analysis was limited to the economic and employment impact of the initial authorization. The work also could improve recreational opportunities such as fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, the report said. In addition, healthy forests purify air and water and may mitigate climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases.

Not everyone supports the legislation, however. Oregon Sierra Club in particular says the bill doesn't protect roadless areas and old-growth stands from "harmful logging impacts." 

"It focuses too heavily on producing sawlogs for mills while mandating annual acreage targets that far exceed those necessary to maintain forest health, extending these activities into healthy backcountry forests where there is no imminent threat to human communities by wildfire," the group said earlier this year. Too much mechanical work in the forest will damage soil and water quality and impede the recovery of threatened fish and wildlife, the group said.

 - Eric Mortenson; 503-294-7636, ericmortenson@news.oregonian.com