The OSU College of Forestry is writing a new plan for the McDonald/Dunn Research Forest. They have set up a planning process whereby the outcome is predetermined. The planning committee has already decided, before completing the public input component of the process, that the CoF will cut enough timber to produce a net income to the CoF. The CoF has prioritized revenue generation over all other values of this public land for years. It is time to make a dramatic change.

Climate chaos is upon us. OSU prides itself in being a research institution. But in its management of the OSU Research Forests, the CoF is stuck in the 1950s. There is no meaningful research conducted in the “Research Forests.” According to the OSU CoF, in the years 2017-2019, nearly $12 million was derived from logging. Yet only $177,000 went to support research.

There are no other colleges at OSU involved in the management of these public lands that are, by law, required to benefit all Oregonians. In fact, sixteen of the eighteen members of the planning committee come from the CoF. And eight come from one department, Forest Engineering (the loggers). Why? That is the question. The answer is that this public land has been seen as a cash cow by the CoF in the past and the current planning process is designed to continue that priority.

Why not turn this around? Prioritize research, by both students and faculty. Focus on carbon sequestration, but also include impacts of climate chaos on flora and fauna, stream flow, fire hazards, invasive species.
The CoF will not respond to pressure from below. They ignore all public input. Change must come from above, and that is why I’m writing to you.

I, and others, would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about this flawed planning process and how to utilize this public land to benefit all Oregonians, not just a few academics in the CoF.