Resilient Forestry
In 2019 Beyond Toxics was one of ten environmental protection nonprofits that worked with Governor Brown to reach an historic agreement to curb aerial herbicide sprays and move Oregon to a new era of riparian protections based on science and precedent in other states.
Last week, representatives from environmental organizations and the timber industry took action to protect fish and wildlife habitat streams on over 10 million acres of forestland in Oregon by reaching a new agreement to overhaul the Oregon Forest Practices Act. Thirteen conservation and fishing groups joined 13 timber representatives to agree on key modernizations to Oregon’s outdated forest management practices.
The parties agreed on a framework for:
- Riparian buffers for streams, rivers, and bodies of water;
- Steep slopes protection to minimize erosion and protect habitat;
- An approach moving forward to improve forest roads;
- Requirements to include Tribal participation in adopting rules and practices;
- And a path forward to make adjustments and adaptation to forest practices in the future
On October 30th, the Governor announced this agreement in a press release. We are hopeful that a strong and collaborative science process will drive future changes that address the damaging effects of climate change and a warming climate that is challenging the survival of Oregon’s native flora and fauna.
In a disappointing time of extreme political polarization in our state and our country, Beyond Toxics sees this new, collaborative spirit of this agreement a model to implement the stronger environmental protections in the years ahead.
What We Are Doing
Beyond Toxics provides leadership within statewide coalitions to link forest protections with climate mitigation while pressing for major reforms of forest laws and practices.
Beyond Toxics' history of research and grassroots organizing shaped the state discussion on aerial herbicide spray and public risk, watershed health, slash burning, biomass and other critical issues related to forest management. We advocate for modernizing Oregon’s forest practices with underlying values of climate and ecosystem protection, environmental justice and rural community health.
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Projects
Natural Climate Solutions
Natural climate solutions are activities that protect or enhance the ability of natural and working lands to sequester and store carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining or increasing climate resilience, water quality and quantity, human well-being, and biodiversity. These practices offer simple, proven solutions for both reducing the future impacts of climate change and confronting the impacts communities and land managers are already contending with, including drought, heatwaves, flooding, and wildfire. Learn more
Protecting Watersheds in Oregon's State Forests
State forests are highly valued as wildlife habitat, protection of viable watersheds for fish and drinking water, and places to hike, camp, fish, picnic or seek peace and quiet. Yet, the Oregon Department of Forestry manages our public state forests more like industrial timber tracts rather than for healthy ecosystems. Learn more
Resilient Forestry Tours
Each year we partner with small forest owners to host guided tours* in biodiverse forests. These projects demonstrate how good forest management can protect drinking water, biodiversity and sequester carbon on the land, all of which are practices that benefit future generations.
Oregon’s Industrial Forests and Herbicide Use Reports
Beyond Toxics published the first comprehensive report on herbicide applications in industrial timber plantations and state forests. We’ve presented this information to state legislators, agencies and communities during over 50 town hall-style meetings across the state. We’ve reached out to communities by hosting over 50 town hall-style meetings across the state. We successfully protected old-growth forests by winning a ban on the use of a tree-killing herbicide following the death of 2,000 majestic Ponderosa pines in Central Oregon. And we helped shape the requirements for pesticide spray notification, buffers for drinking water, homes and schools and accurate reporting of individual chemical use as part of the successful SB 1602 (passed in early 2020). Learn more
