There used to be hundreds of thousands of acres of old growth forests in Oregon, which offered carbon sequestration, pure water, biological diversity, and habitat for plants and animals. Six percent of our state woods are still old growth stands after decades of logging. Out of the more than 600,000 acres of state forestland under the Oregon Department of Forestry’s management, this represents fewer than 50,000 acres. Kindly contact Governor Tina Kotek via phone or letter to request that what remains be protected. In order to assist future generations and the species that depends on old growth habitat for its existence, the ODF can manage the remaining old growth for perpetuity with the governor’s support.
Hillsboro’s Greg Jacob
Visit regonlive.com/opinion to read further letters to the editor.
