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Cooperative Forest Ecosystem Research
Integration


Private Forestlands: Forest Practices Act

The Oregon Forest Practices Act (OFPA) is a set of administrative rules specifying management measures on private and state lands. Oregon was the first state to develop such standards with the passage of the Act in 1971. These rules regulate timber harvesting and reforestation, road construction and maintenance, application of chemicals, design of drainage systems, and protection of water and sensitive resource sites on non-federal lands in Oregon state.

As outlined in "Harvest and Regeneration in Oregon's Commercial Forests"(i), some of the major provisions of the Act include:
Private Landscape
Reforestation
Within a 12 month period following harvest, a landowner must start reforestation tasks, such as site preparation and ordering seedlings. After a period of 24 months replanting must be completed. After replanting, competing vegetation must be cleared until planted trees have exceeded the height of surrounding brush. Regulations require conifers to reach this point within six years.
 
 

Clear Cut - Piles
Harvest size limits
Within a single ownership, clearcut size can not exceed 120 acres or be placed within 300 feet of another clearcut.
 
 
Logging Operations
All harvesting activities require notification forms and site maps to be submitted to ODF for approval.
   

Leaving Trees and Downed Logs for Wildlife
Two snags or green trees plus two downed logs per acre must be retained in harvest units larger than 25 acres. Wildlife biologists have learned that snags and downed wood provide important nesting sites and other habitat for forest dwelling animals.
 
   

Protection of Stream Habitat
Harvest may not be conducted within a certain distance of streams. These areas, known as riparian management areas contain large trees that provide shade and keep water temperatures cool. They also help maintain fish habitat and prevent sediment from being washed into the stream.
Riparian
 
 
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat
In areas near sensitive resources (i.e., bird nesting, roosting or watering sites), harvest operations must be avoided or modified to comply with ODF regulations.
   

In addition, there are important federal laws which apply to private lands including the Endangered Species Act and provisions of the Clean Water Act.

Related Links
• Oregon Department of Forestry homepage http://www.odf.state.or.us
 
Footnote:
(i) Svicarovich, J. Harvest and Regeneration in Oregon's Commercial Forests. Oregon Forest Resources Institute publication, Portland, OR.


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