In fact, we're harvesting some of the early plantations now. A land ethic within the industry plays a role in reforestation, too. Steers was the 1989 recipient of the Chiles Award for Industry Forestry, which recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to management of private timberlands for long-term benefit of both industry and the environment. The Forest Practices Act provides a time frame within which reforestation must occur. It also specifies the type of seedlings appropriate for each region and the number of seelings that must be planted per acre.
Noncompliance is penalized with a citation, fine and reparation order.
The requirements vary according to region. For example, coastal sites must show 150 well-established seelings per acre within three years of harvest, while Willamette Valley sites are allowed five years to show the same growth. Growers are given six years to establish 100 seedlings per acre in Eastern Oregon and four years to establish that number in the Southern Oregon region. A seedling must survive two years to be considered established. A three-year time frame actually means the trees have to be planted the first year and allowed to grow two years.