SB1534 Carbon-Sequestration Comments

Kathy Conway and Alan R.P. Journet
7113 Griffin Lane
Jacksonville OR 97530-9342
alanjournet@gmail.com
541-301-4107
February 15th, 2022

Joint Committee on Ways & Means, Natural Resources sub-committee

Chair Taylor and Members of Joint Committee on Ways & Means, Sub-committee on Natural Resources

We are delighted owners of a 20-acre small forested woodland property in the beautiful Applegate Valley of Jackson County. It is in this context that I write to support SB11534.

Many residents of rural Oregon are, like us, keen to see efforts to sequester carbon in our natural and working lands, are encouraged by SB1534. We feel that encouraging carbo sequestration with incentives will likely energize the currently depressed rural economy. It should also help those of us concerned about the impact of global warming on our beloved Oregon start individually and personally to address the problem by modifying how we manage our land. Like many owners of small rural forested properties, our goal is not to profit from the harvest of the timber on our land. Rather, our goal is to enjoy the tranquility and beauty that rural Oregon offers. However, even as we personally enjoy this beauty, we also wish to do what we can in the day-to-day management of this small paradise to address the current climate crisis by promoting sequestration of carbon to the maximum extent possible. We understand that any efforts to incentivize carbon sequestration must be predicated on as accurate and precise a baseline assessment of the carbon currently stored in our lands as is possible.

In developing its Natural and Working Lands plan for Oregon, the Global Warming Commission identified goals for carbon sequestration in these lands. As rural Southern Oregonians, we totally support the Natural and Working Lands and Waters Plan proposal of the OGWC and therefore also support SB1534 since this is the legislative first step to actualizing those goals.

For these reasons, we are totally supportive of the efforts of OGWC to promote carbon sequestration on our natural and working lands through an incentive program that encourages landowners and managers to adjust their tactics to incorporate these goals. A critical first step is to establish carbon sequestration as a goal in our state and then understand what the current carbon storage capacity is of our lands This will serves as a baseline for incentivizing and assessing improvements.

In turn, we also support SB1534 as a first legislative step towards promoting the goals that we see as important in the future management of our natural and working lands and waters.

Sincerely

Kathy Conway Ph.D  &  Alan Journet Ph.D.

7113 Griffin Lane
Jacksonville OR 97530-9342