On some public forests in Oregon, forest managers are using a timber harvest method called variable-retention harvest. In a variable-retention harvest, timber is logged in patches of varying sizes, leaving behind certain trees or clusters of trees to protect wildlife habitat or serve other ecological needs.The Bureau of Land Management uses the silvicultural method in southwestern Oregon to design harvests with the competing goals of generating timber revenue while also protecting forest habitat for species such as the threatened northern spotted owl.

For many years, Oregon has led the nation in softwood lumber production. Softwood lumber is made with wood from conifer tree species such as Douglas-fir.Oregon’s softwood lumber output of 5.4 billion board feet in 2017 accounted for about 16 percent of total U.S. production. That’s an increase of 36 percent from the recessionary low in 2009. Softwood products are typically used for construction and include dimension lumber, beams, wood paneling, flooring, decking, molding and millwork, and door and window frames.

In addition to timber, Oregon’s forests are the source of an abundance of other vegetation with commercial value. These non-timber forest products include wild mushrooms, berries, ferns, tree boughs, cones, moss and medicinal herbs such as cascara bark and Oregon grape.

An acre of land can only grow so many trees. One acre of fertile forestland may be able to sustain 500 small trees, or 100 big trees. Thinning is an effective and powerful forest management tool that promotes tree growth and restores forest health. When thinning, forest operators remove slower-growing or defective trees to provide more space for the remaining trees to grow. Available water and soil nutrients benefit those that remain, resulting in bigger, healthier trees in a shorter period of time.

Why is thinning the most common timber harvest method east of the Cascades?Clearcutting is uncommon in central and eastern Oregon, with the exception of its use in lodgepole pine forests infested with mountain pine beetles. The reason thinning is much more common is because of the drier climate east of the Cascade Crest.

Native tree diseases are a particularly common menace to Oregon’s western forests. Among the most prevalent diseases in Oregon are Swiss needle cast and laminated root rot. Swiss needle cast is a foliage disease that affects Douglas-fir trees. It causes trees to prematurely shed their needles.Laminated root rot attacks and kills a tree’s root system. This hinders its ability to suck up water and soil nutrients. Trees affected by root disease are also more susceptible to bark beetles and wood borers, and are more likely to fall during a storm or high winds.

Disease threats to Oregon forestsDwarf MistletoesParasitic, flowering plants that can slow tree growth, deform crowns and branches, and eventually kill the trees in which they grow.Foliage DiseasesCaused by fungi that infect tree leaves or needles and cause them to fall prematurely from the tree. In the case of foliage diseases known as needle blights, the dead or partially dead needles often remain attached to the tree’s branches.Root Diseases

Contact Us:We invite you to ask a specific question about OFRI or its educational programs by emailing us at info@ofri.org.Oregon Forest Resources InstituteLocation: 9755 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 210Portland, OR 97225Phone: 971-673-2944Fax: 971-673-2946

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2024)OFRI is governed by a board of directors made up of 11 voting members appointed by the state forester, plus two non-voting members.Voting board members include nine representatives of timber 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.

If you said that Oregon's forests belong to everyone, you‘d be 64 percent right. The general public owns most of Oregon‘s forests, which are held by the federal government or the state of Oregon.Private landowners of both large and small tracts of forestland own 34 percent of Oregon's forests. The remaining 2 percent of forests is in tribal ownership. 

Acreage by ownership

MOST OF OREGON'S DRINKING WATER IS SOURCED FROM THE FOREST.With so many demands on water, keeping supplies safe for drinking is a critical governmental function, one we often take for granted. We simply turn on the tap, and voila!In Oregon, more than 300 public water providers rely on surface water from rivers, lakes or reservoirs as their main source to supply about 75 percent of Oregonians with safe drinking water.

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute is proud to present select images, infographics and tables related to Oregon’s forests. These graphics come from OFRI’s photo library, or from recent special reports and publications created by OFRI. Both low- and high-resolution downloads are available within each image window. Please credit the Oregon Forest Resources Institute when using these resources. Select a specific gallery using the pulldown selector below.

In Oregon, nearly 50 percent of our state's 61 million acres is forestland. Our forests supply renewable resources for lumber, paper and heating, along with jobs that support families and communities. They also provide us with an active playground and a quiet retreat.Because we depend so profoundly on our forests, it’s important for Oregon students to understand not only how they work, but also how we are connected to them ecologically, economically and socially. Plus, using forests as a context for teaching can enrich student learning and extend it beyond the classroom walls.

Forest Fact Break: Forest TypesThis 90-

Bus transportationOFRI recognizes the effectiveness of field studies and wishes to support classroom teachers’ forest education efforts. OFRI may be able to provide transportation funds, on a case-by-case basis, to classes whose opportunities to participate in such forestry-related studies are otherwise limited.Apply online for bus transportation reimbursement.

OregonForests.org is a portal for information relating to the forest products industry and the management of Oregon’s forests as environmental, recreational and economic resources. View or order the publications and products described below.