629-035-0010 Findings and Principles Concerning Lands Acquired under ORS Chapter 530 (1) ORS Chapter 530 authorizes the Board of Forestry to acquire forest lands which by reason of their location, topographical, geological, or physical characteristics are chiefly valuable for: (a) Production of forest crops; (b) Watershed protection and development; (c) Erosion control; (d) Grazing; (e) Recreation; (f) Forest administrative purposes. (2) These lands must be managed to achieve the greatest permanent value to the state. (3) For purposes of achieving the greatest permanent value of these forest lands to the state, the Board may direct the State Forester to: (a) Protect these forest lands from fire, disease, and insect pests, sell forest products from these forest lands, and execute mining leases and contracts as provided for in ORS 273.551; and (b) Permit the use of these forest lands for other purposes, when such uses are not detrimental to the best interest of the state. These other purposes include, but are not limited to: (A) Forage and browse for domestic livestock; (B) Fish and wildlife environment; (C) Landscape effect; (D) Protection against floods and erosion; (E) Recreation; (F) Protection of water supplies. (4) The counties in which these forest lands are located have a protected and recognizable interest in receiving revenues from these forest lands; however, the Board and the State Forester are not required to manage these forest lands to maximize revenues, exclude all non-revenue producing uses on these forest lands, or to produce revenue from every acre of these forest lands. (5) Based on existing Board principles and policies and current scientific and silvicultural information, the Board finds that uses for purposes set forth in subsections (3)(a) and (b) of this section are compatible over time and across the landscape when the lands are actively managed in an environmentally and silviculturally exemplary manner, as set forth in OAR 629-035-0030, using management practices that: (a) Pursue compatibility of forest uses over time; (b) Integrate and achieve a variety of forest resource management goals; (c) Achieve, over time, site-specific goals for forest resources, using the process as set forth in OAR 629-035-0030 through 629-035-0070; (d) Consider landscape context; (e) Are based on the best science available; and (f) Incorporate an adaptive management approach that applies new management practices and techniques as new scientific information and results of monitoring become available. (6) Based on existing Board principles and policies and current scientific and silvicultural information, the Board finds that forest lands that are actively managed as provided in subsection (5) of this section can produce economic value over the long term and promote healthy, sustainable forest ecosystems that: (a) Produce timber and revenues for the state, counties, and local taxing districts; (b) Result in a high probability of maintaining and restoring properly functioning aquatic habitats for salmonids, and other native fish and aquatic life; (c) Protect, maintain, and enhance native wildlife habitats; (d) Protect soil, air, and water; and (e) Provide outdoor recreational opportunities. (7) Based on subsections (5) and (6) of this section, the Board finds that actively managing forest lands for the purposes described in subsections (3)(a) and (b) of this section is in the best interest of the state. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 526.016(4) Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 530.010 - 530.050 History: DOF 2-1998, f. 1-15-98, cert. ef. 3-1-98