Our Climate in Crisis: PFT is Providing Solutions

The federal House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released its long-awaited report last week, Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America, presenting an actionable policy roadmap for climate solutions. The Report highlights the opportunities in our natural and working lands to sequester carbon and support adaptation while supporting resilient communities. PFT worked with the Committee to help define the role natural and working lands can and must play (read our comments).

The Action Plan calls on Congress to 1) grow our clean energy economy; 2) protect the health of all and prioritize environmental justice; 3) ensure communities can withstand climate change; and 4) protect our land and waters. Among the land-based recommendations, the report highlights the importance of supporting private landowners in conservation, protecting forests with climate-informed management, creating incentives for long term-sustainable wood products from well-managed forests, and incentivizing organic agriculture.

We are pleased that many of PFT’s recommendations are in the Action Plan, notably:

·     Forest Carbon Reserve: The Action Plan calls for the establishment of a Forest Carbon Reserve to manage for and protect older federal forests, as well as old growth, also focusing lands management on increasing carbon stocks over the long-term. Similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but focused instead on accumulating more carbon safely stored in forests, this would be a buffer on excess emissions.

·     Tax incentives: The Action Plan recommends evaluating a tax credit for carbon sequestration in forests and farms.

·     “Carbon-friendly” federal food procurement: The Action Plan calls for the increase of “organic-to-institution” procurement, such as through the child nutrition programs.

·     New procurement standard or certification: The Action Plan recommends Congress establish a new mechanism, such as a ‘climate-based producer’ certification to incentivize climate stewardship and enhance carbon storage via forests and other land management.

Summertime, and the Livin’ is Easy (if you are a Bear in a Safe Harbor!)

It’s hot this summer, and these bears have figured out how to stay cool and safe! Both of these bears live on PFT- conserved properties that also have obtained coverage under the Endangered Species Act with Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA). Both the van Eck California forest and the Hart’s Butte Creek Ranch have these agreements that allow them to continue the good management they normally do without concern if animals protected by the ESA live on or come to their properties. The Collin’s Goose Lake property is another such protected property with a SHA. These SHAs are substantially grounded in the terms of the conservation easements that guide the property’s management to both enable ongoing revenue and ensure that critical habitats are restored and maintained. So, whether you are a hot bear, a Spotted Owl, or a Grey Wolf, these are places you can safely call home!

Oregon Advances Improved Streamside Management — on to the Severance Tax?

Oregon’s legislature recently passed SB1602 to bolster protections for forests and streams, with overwhelming bipartisan support. The bill puts into motion a mediation process for the environmental organizations and timber companies that signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February, which seeks to promote both economic and environmental resiliency while protecting threatened and endangered species and water resources. This compromise is a major step forward for timber and conservation interests in finding common ground to protect our forests for all their values. SB1602 also strengthens the state’s aerial pesticide spray regulations and expands 2017 Board of Forestry rules for salmon, steelhead, and bull trout to the Siskiyou region.

Oregon has also had a robust discussion of the impacts of the elimination of the timber severance tax in the 1990s. A recent investigation by the Oregonian found that if the severance tax had not been phased out, timber companies would have paid $3 billion from 1991 to present to the cities and counties in which their land was located, supporting essential services now lacking. However, these localities have only collected $871 million in that time. Many are wondering if it is time to reinstate that tax, similarly to what happens in neighboring states of Washington and California.

The legislature is evaluating ways to secure funding for a third-party study of costs and revenues of state timber tax policies. This could pave the way for reassessing the severance tax. Another option is for the state Legislative Revenue Office to update its last analysis on this from 2013. The severance tax is common in timber states. It helps support the communities that support the timber industry. It is time for Oregon to reevaluate the tax’s elimination.

Alder Springs Vineyard’s Case for a Cause is a fantastic opportunity to treat yourself to a case of world-class wine at a discount and support Pacific Forest Trust!