Oregon Forest Resources Institute

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) describes itself as an educational organization. Based in the U.S. state of Oregon, OFRI is publicly funded through taxes. OFRI asserts that it is dedicated to forestry issues, including improving public understanding of the state's forest resources and encouraging "environmentally sound forest management."

OFRI provides education, training and publications for forest landowners, students and teachers, and the general public.[1] It produces research on forest science and current issues. OFRI's seven-member staff is located in Portland.[2]


History

OFRI was created by the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1991 and is funded by a dedicated forest-products harvest tax.[1] It is governed by a 13-member board of directors who represent small, medium and large forest producers, small woodland owners, forest sector employees, academia and the general public. The Oregon State Forester appoints 11 members. The others are ex officio: the dean of Oregon State University College of Forestry and a public representative appointed by the president of the Oregon State Senate and speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.[3]


Controversy

A 2020 investigation by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and The Oregonian, the state's newspaper of record, revealed that OFRI has acted as "public-relations agency and lobbying arm for Oregon's timber industry."[4] According to this view, OFRI promotes the timber industry and suppresses dissemination of legitimate research conducted by reputable scientists.[4]

On August 31st, 2020 Gov. Kate Brown requested an audit of OFRI as a result of OPB's investigation. OFRI has not been audited since 1996. Secretary of State Bev Clarno will be conducting the audit.[5]

Board of Directors[3]

The Board of Directors consists entirely of representatives from the timber industry.

The state forester appoints 11 dedicated individuals to a board of directors that governs the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. The state forester is charged by statute with soliciting nominations and appointing the following board members: nine representatives of producer classes, with three each from small (Class 1), medium (Class 2) and large (Class 3) producers; one member representing small woodland owners; and one representative for forest industry employees.

Ex officio members required by statute include the dean of the Oregon State University College of Forestry and a public member appointed jointly by the president of the Oregon Senate and the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Board members appointed by the state forester serve three-year terms. Current OFRI board members (as of January 2016) are as follows:

Class 1: producers are defined by rule as those paying the harvest tax on 20 million board feet per year or less. Class 2: producers are those paying tax on more than 20 million per year but less than 100 million board feet. Class 3: producers pay tax on 100 million board feet per year or more. Small woodland owners: are defined as those who own between 100 and 2,000 acres of forestland and who have no direct financial interest in any forest products processing activity.

Current members include:

Matt Hegerberg - WyEast Timber Services, LLC

Jennifer Phillipi - Perpetua Forests Company

Quincy Powers - Powers Ranch Company

Tyler Freres - Freres Lumber Company, Inc.

David Fartwangler - Cascade Timber Consulting, Inc.

Eric Schooler - Collins Timber

David Hampton - Hampton Lumber

Jim Hunt - Campbell Global, LLC

Steve McNulty - Weyerhaeuser

Audrey Barnes - Nickel Mountain, LLC

Mike Sullivan - Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers

Ex Officio Member - Thomas Maness - Dean, Oregon State University School of Forestry

Ex Officio Member - Randy Schild - Tillamook School District no. 9

Advertising Campaigns

OFRI has purchased several prominent advertising campaigns in the state of Oregon benefiting the timber industry.[4] These campaigns are paid for with taxpayer dollars. In 2015 OFRI spent $1.05 million in taxpayer funds.[6]

In 2016-2017 the advertising campaigns have focused on promoting a corporate website created by OFRI, http://oregonforestlaws.org/ .

Landowner education

OFRI provides workshops, publications and conferences focused on recent science and advances in forest management practices. Its programs are available to both large and small forestland owners.[7]

Student and teacher education

OFRI's K-12 forestry education programs reach more than 100,000 students and more than 1,000 educators annually.[7] Slanted against concerns about the environment, clean drinking water, and global warming, its Oregon Forest Literacy Program includes a forest education conceptual framework correlated with state education standards that offer educators guidance for developing industry-friendly classroom lessons related to forests.[4] Student programs include classroom presentations, career events, publications, field tours and activities. Teacher training also includes support for workshops and conferences.[7]

OFRI manages the Rediscovery Forest, a forested area used for educational purposes and to demonstrate diverse Oregon wildlife habitat and forest ecosystems.[8] The Rediscovery Forest is located in the Oregon Garden, in Silverton.

Public education

To increase public understanding about Oregon forests and their management, and to promote the interests of the timber industry,[4] OFRI produces what it describes as "educational spots" aired on broadcast and cable television; print, radio and Internet advertising; and online newsletters.[9] It offers a speakers bureau, and co-sponsors and supports conferences and forest field trips.[7]

Publications

OFRI maintains a library of approximately 70 titles that includes special reports, fact sheets, research reports, pocket reference guides and career information, all available at OFRI's website.[9] It publishes an annual report each year in the fall.[7]

See also

References
  1. "About OFRI". Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
  2. "Contact OFRI". Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
  3. "Board of Directors". Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
  4. Rob Davis and Tony Schick (August 4, 2020). "How a public institute in Oregon became a de facto lobbying arm of the timber industry". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Oregonian Newspaper. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  5. Schick, Tony (September 2, 2020). "Reporting on timber lobbying prompts Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to call for audit of state institute". Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. "TAX-DOLLAR TIMBER INDUSTRY ADVERTISING FACES SCRUTINY IN OREGON". Investigate West.
  7. "2009-2010 Annual Report". Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
  8. "Rediscovery Forest". Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
  9. "FactsAndResources/Videos". Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
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