U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued a press release regarding introduction of a forest restoration bill cosponsored with U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., John Duarte, R-Calif., and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash. The bipartisan legislation would improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, sequester more carbon, and boost rural economies by supporting innovative timber products, such as mass timber.

The Timber Innovation For Building Rural Communities Act would:

• Require the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with Tribes, State Foresters, and private sector partners, to establish a platform for measuring, monitoring, verifying and reporting data about the carbon impacts from forest management and wood products.
• Reduce the match requirement for the existing Wood Innovation Grant Program and direct that priority be given to proposed projects in communities with higher-than-average unemployment, that recognize or enhance carbon reduction strategies in building design, or report on the resilience and economic benefits of the proposal.
• Establish the Wood Building Accelerator Grant Program to fund programs that support the critical elements of designing and building with wood, including traditional wood products, mass timber and other advanced wood products.
• Establish the Rural Infrastructure and Building Pilot Program to fund pilot programs that demonstrate the use of innovative wood products in the construction and renovation of rural infrastructure and building projects, such as affordable, modular housing.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The bill introduction comes days after the U.S. Agriculture Department released the Resources Planning Act Assessment report making an alarming disclosure. The report projects that annual carbon sequestration by U.S. forests will decrease, with total above ground carbon leveling off by 2070. To date, the Forest Service’s greenhouse gas bulletin shows that nine western states are now net emitters of carbon due to disturbances, including wildfire, insect infestation and disease, and the aging of forests, which is reducing their carbon-absorbing capabilities.

The U.S. Forest Service reports that in the past two-months there have been 197 human-caused fires in the Pacific Northwest, a 150 percent increase over last year. The cause of four fires are still under investigation.

Wyden said. “Oregon’s cutting-edge leadership in wood products innovations strengthens rural economies by generating fresh job opportunities, all while paying for restoration work that’s key to creating healthier, more fire-resistant forests statewide, and adding timely tools in the climate crisis battle. The Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act would build much-needed federal support for that triple crown of economic, firefighting and environmental goals. And I’ll fight hard to get this legislation passed into law.”

As air quality is threatened, homes in danger and the economy suffering, where is Oregon on fire prevention?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-08-01 12:04:02

Last Update: 2023-08-01 12:44:03