ODF notes timber cut decrease
From our weekly issue dated November 12, 2008
Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s annual timber harvest report shows that 2007 comprises the smallest Oregon timber harvest since the recession-based record lows of 2001.
Oregon’s timber harvest continued a decline that began in 2004, with 3.8 billion board feet (bbf) harvested in ‘07 -- representing a 12 percent decrease from the ‘06 harvest volume of 4.33 bbf.
“Interestingly, because of relatively strong plywood demand, nonresidential construction, and fewer log imports from adjacent states,” Oregon timber harvests declined less that half of the percentage drop in national housing starts, said Gary Lettman, ODF’s forest economist.
The reduction in timber harvest volumes came from declining harvests from private forestland owners. An 11 percent, or 344 million board feet (mbf), decrease in volume from forest industry land owners was accompanied by a 43 percent decline in harvests on non-industrial private land, which declined from 422 mbf during ‘06 to 240 mbf in ‘07. Federal harvests remained at historically low levels, accounting for less than 10 percent of the cost.
Timber harvests were down in western and eastern Oregon. Driven primarily by a 44 percent harvest decrease on non-industrial private land (from 351 to 198 mbf), harvests in all of western Oregon declined 11 percent from ‘06 levels.
As timber harvesting continues to become increasingly concentrated in the western part of the state, rural communities in eastern Oregon continue to lose raw materials for their 10 remaining sawmills, said ODF. Since 1991, the percentage of timber harvests that have come from eastern Oregon has declined from 31 percent in 1991 to 11 percent in 2007. In eastern Oregon, much of the 23 percent overall harvest decrease can be attributed to a 97 mbf harvest reduction by forest industry land owners.
Advertisement:
Despite decreasing by 15 percent (to 504 mbf) during ‘07, Lane County continues to lead Oregon’s counties in harvesting. Douglas County was second with 479 mbf, and Clatsop and Coos were third and fourth, with 338 and 303 mbf, respectively.
Overall, harvests decreased in all western Oregon counties except for Curry, Hood River, Linn, and Yamhill, resulting in the 11 percent decline in that region. In eastern Oregon, harvest levels also declined in all counties, except Crook and Harney. Despite a 30 percent reduction in harvest volume from ‘06, Klamath County continues to harvest the most timber in eastern Oregon with 107 mbf during ‘07. The ‘07 report, as well as previous annual reports, is available online at www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/FRP/
Advertisement:
