December is a perfect time to reflect on all there is to be grateful for, such as our colleagues, friends and family. I’m also grateful to live in a state with some of the best forests in the world. And that we’re fortunate to have a forestry sector with such hard-working people, taking great care of our forests and all the benefits they bring to Oregonians.

It’s been a big year for OFRI and for forestry, and I’d encourage you to check out our 2021-22 Annual Report and OregonForests.org to learn more. 

Through all the changes we’ve seen over the past 30 years, OFRI has been here helping support the forestry sector and wise stewardship of natural resources for the benefit of Oregonians. We look forward to what the next 30 years hold, committed as ever to the sustainability of Oregon’s forests.

The OFRI staff and board wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year. 

For the forest,

Jim Paul

Executive Director

Forest-related employment in Oregon totaled 62,000 in 2021, which accounted for 3% of Oregon’s workforce, according to new data compiled by the Oregon Employment Department (OED) in partnership with OFRI and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

OED released the forest-related job figures on the agency’s website last month after completing a comprehensive tabulation of employment across Oregon’s forest sector. This includes positions in forestry, logging, and forest products manufacturing and transportation, as well as supportive industries such as nurseries, machinery manufacturing and firefighting.

The data will also appear in the 2023-24 edition of OFRI’s Oregon Forest Facts booklet, scheduled to publish in early 2023, and on OregonForestFacts.org.

The OED analysis found that forest-related jobs paid relatively well, with an average annual wage of $68,200, roughly 7% more than the $64,000 average wage for all jobs covered by unemployment insurance in 2021.

The economic impact of the forest sector is especially felt in rural Oregon, according to the analysis. Forest sector employment made up 7% of all rural employment, compared to 2% of all metropolitan area employment. In Grant County, one out of every five jobs was forest-related. The sector accounted for more than 10% of total employment in Crook, Douglas, Jefferson and Lake counties. 

Two loggers and a forestry consultant will be honored at an Oregon Board of Forestry meeting next month as Oregon’s 2022 Operators of the Year for their respective regions of the state.

Three regional advisory committees to the Board of Forestry selected the following individuals and businesses as the state’s top forest operators for 2022:

· Eastern Oregon – Chuck Sarrett of Full Circle Consulting in La Grande

·  Northwest Oregon – Mike Falleur of F & B Logging in Warrenton

·  Southwest Oregon – Bobby King of R & R King Logging in Florence

The three Operators of the Year will be recognized at a Jan. 4 Board of Forestry meeting in Salem. The award recognizes forest operators who, while logging or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that consistently meets or goes above and beyond the requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act.

Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and three Merit Award winners, Chiloquin Lawn Care, Wolfco Timber Services and David Strain Excavating and Trucking, can be viewed on the Oregon Department of Forestry website. 

OFRI is seeking qualified applicants for a forest landowner education manager position, responsible for delivering forestry interpretation and landowner education programs for the Institute.

The position will be based out of OFRI’s Silverton office at The Oregon Garden, and responsibilities include managing the 15-acre Rediscovery Forest for educational purposes, as well as other assets at the 80-acre botanical garden. The forest landowner education manager assists OFRI’s director of forestry in delivering the Institute’s landowner and public education programs.

A complete job listing for the position that includes minimum qualifications, desired attributes, a description of duties, and salary and benefits information is available on OFRI’s website.

Current State of Oregon employees, excluding temporary employees, must apply through their employee Workday account. External candidates will need to create a Workday profile to apply. Search for Job Requisition ID: REQ-112181.

Applications are due by Jan. 9, 2023. 

Blog: "Gimme shelter'"

One of the best ways to help wildlife on your forested property is one of the simplest. Piling up sticks and logs into a “habitat pile” can provide an excellent place for critters to rest, roost or nest. In a new guest post on the OFRI blog, wildlife technician Jon Cox of Cafferata Consulting explains why these wooden structures benefit forest animals, and how to construct one yourself. 

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Blog: "The other fish to fry"

Fish, especially salmon and steelhead, are synonymous with Oregon. To help K-12 educators incorporate lessons about fish and forests into their curriculum, OFRI partners with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s “Fish Eggs to Fry” program. In her latest post on the OFRI blog, Director of K-12 Education Programs Norie Dimeo-Ediger highlights the program, which allows students to raise fish in their classrooms. 

OFRI board meets Jan. 19

The OFRI Board of Directors will hold its next meeting Jan. 19 in Portland. All OFRI board meetings are open to the public. Meeting details and the agenda will be available on the board meetings and materials page on OFRI’s website. 

Planting trees? Order your "planted" sign today

The arrival of winter this month means tree planting season in Oregon is upon us, and it’s the perfect time to order a “planted” sign through OFRI’s landowner signage program. OFRI provides the signs, which say “planted” and the year the trees were planted, free to landowners for replanted sites facing a well-traveled roadway. The signs help the public who drive by understand that trees have been planted, even if they can’t see the seedlings. Learn more and order signs here.

Harvesting evergreen boughs from your woodland

One of Oregon State University Extension Forestry Agent Alicia Christiansen’s favorite ways to get into the holiday spirit is to make a wreath from boughs harvested from her woodland. In an article on the OSU Extension website, she shares her tips for harvesting boughs from native evergreen conifers to make wreaths and other holiday decorations.



Oregon Board of Forestry Meeting

Jan. 4, 2023, Salem

OFRI Board Meeting

Jan. 19, 2023, Portland

Oregon Logging Conference

Feb. 23-25, 2023, Eugene