December 13, 2022 4:20 p.m.
On Tuesday, the State Land Board took historic action toward creation of the Elliott State Research Forest.
A release from the Department of State Lands said the board decoupled the forest from Oregon’s Common School Fund and appointed the first board of directors for the new public agency to be established in 2024. It will oversee the research forest in collaboration with Oregon State University.
ODSL said as an asset of the Common School Fund, the Elliott – located in Douglas and Coos counties – was continually caught between the financial obligation of the forest to support public schools and the forest’s potential to provide benefits beyond harvest revenue.
Tuesday’s decoupling vote – made possible by a payment of $221 million to the Fund – frees the forest of its historic obligation to generate revenue for K-12 public schools. The forest remains in public ownership, under the oversights of the new Elliott State Research Forest Authority agency created by Senate Bill 1546.
State Treasurer Tobias Read said, “This is a day to celebrate the creation of the largest research forest in North America, the Elliott State Research Forest”. Read said the Elliott will provide a better approach for working forest management, improve conservation protections and keep the forest in public hands. Read said, “We can be proud that current and future generations of Oregonians will benefit from this valuable natural resource”.
The release said the Land Board also prospectively appointed the initial nine-member Board of Directors of the Authority. Board member terms and bios are linked: https://oregonstatelands.app.box.com/s/m0t7szr8yusrza2o2k6ud1seobqh9k06. The appointments are effective on the January 1, 2024 establishment of the new agency.
The Land Board recognized the Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee with a Partnership Award, noting the committee’s “unflagging work” toward a research forest.
Also, at the meeting, Vicki Walker was appointed to a second four-year term as Director of the Department of State Lands.
The State Land Board consists of Governor Kate Brown, Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and State Treasurer Tobias Read.