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Elliott State Forest Options Do Not Include Land Auctions

Oregon Department of Forestry

The Oregon State Land Board is meeting in Salem Tuesday [Dec. 9] to discuss how to increase revenues from the Elliott State Forest. Earlier this year, after the forest began losing money, the Board decided to sell off parcels to timber companies.

But now the state is moving away from private auctions and focusing on public management.

Timber harvests on the Elliott State Forest historically produced funding for Oregon’s $1.2 billion Common School Fund, which generates money for education. But logging in the forest declined in 2013, and the Elliott began losing money. That’s what prompted the sale of three parcels to timber companies.

Now the State Land Board is considering options for managing the Elliott going forward. The current recommendations do not include auctioning off more parcels. But they do leave the door open for ownership by Native American tribes or public/private partnerships.

Environmentalists are planning a protest before the meeting to urge the Board to keep the land public.

Copyright 2014 Earthfix

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