Growing Oregon’s forests

The total acreage of Oregon’s forestland has remained virtually unchanged since 1953. Yet during the same time period, harvesting has produced more than 400 billion board feet of timber. To put that number in perspective, Oregon’s forests have provided enough timber to frame 25 million homes* without a reduction in the size and volume of the state’s forestland. Now that’s what you call sustainability.

Today, 75 percent of Oregon’s timber production comes from forestlands that are owned by companies, families and Native American tribes. As active forest managers, these owners are leaders in sustainable forest management practices. To accelerate growth and improve yield per acre, they optimize methods of reforestation, thinning and fire and infestation prevention, while protecting natural resources such as water and fish and wildlife habitats.

* According to idahoforests.org, framing an average 2,000-square-foot home requires 15,800 board feet.