SB1501 Forestry-Accord

Alan R.P. Journet Ph.D
Cofacilitator,
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now
7113 Griffin Lane
Jacksonville OR 97530-9342
alan@socan.eco
541-301-4107
February 1^st 2022

Chair Golden and members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery:

I write as co-facilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now on behalf of the over 1600 rural Southern Oregonians who are SOCAN. Our mission is to promote awareness and understanding of the science of global warming and its climate change consequences and motivate individual and collective action to address the resulting climate crisis.

I write in support of SB1501 which results from the negotiations undertaken between timber representatives and Conservation organizations that developed an accord as a way of avoiding a protracted ballot measure conflict. As proponents of management practices that lead to healthy thriving forests across the state that support our native terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, we applaud the negotiators for reaching a compromise that serves the following goals: development of habitat conservation plans, initiation of the emergence from purgatory for the beaver, promotion of Adaptive Management, initiation of updating the Oregon Forest Management Practices Act, recognition of the danger of widespread pesticide use, greater protection for riparian communities.

While the focus of SOCAN is on addressing the climate crisis, we recognize that healthy Oregon forests are a prime component of this effort. We therefore appreciate the development of this accord and support its being enacted into law through legislation.

Respectfully submitted

Alan Journet Ph.D.
Cofacilitator
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now