Forest Facts

The State of Oregon's Forests

Oregon's forests cover approximately 30 million acres, representing nearly half of the state's total land area. These forests are divided among federal (60%), private (35%), and state (5%) ownership. The management practices on these lands vary dramatically, with private industrial forests often subject to the most intensive harvesting regimes.

Only about 4% of Oregon's original old growth forests remain standing today. These ancient forests, some with trees over 500 years old, represent irreplaceable ecological treasures that support hundreds of species found nowhere else on Earth.

Why Forests Matter

Clean Water

Forests are nature's water filtration system. Forest soils absorb rainfall, filter out pollutants, and slowly release clean water into streams and aquifers. Clearcutting disrupts this process, leading to increased erosion, sedimentation of streams, and degraded water quality. In Oregon, forested watersheds provide drinking water to millions of people.

Carbon Storage

Old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest are among the most carbon-dense ecosystems on Earth. A single acre of old growth Douglas fir forest can store over 400 tons of carbon in its trees, soil, and understory vegetation. When these forests are clearcut, much of this stored carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

Biodiversity

Pacific Northwest forests support an extraordinary diversity of life, including over 200 species of birds, 70 species of mammals, and thousands of species of insects, fungi, and plants. Many of these species, including the Northern Spotted Owl, the Marbled Murrelet, and the Pacific fisher, depend on old growth forest habitat for their survival.

Economic Value

While timber production remains an important economic activity in Oregon, the non-timber values of forests far exceed their value as lumber. Ecosystem services provided by forests, including clean water, carbon storage, flood protection, and recreation, are estimated to be worth billions of dollars annually. Sustainable forestry practices ensure that these values are maintained alongside responsible timber production.

Clearcutting vs. Selective Harvesting

Clearcutting removes all trees from a harvested area, creating a barren landscape that is vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and loss of biodiversity. Recovery from clearcutting can take decades to centuries, and the replanted monoculture forests that replace natural forests lack the ecological complexity of the original ecosystem.

Selective harvesting, by contrast, removes only a portion of the trees in a given area, maintaining forest canopy cover, protecting soil and water resources, and preserving habitat for wildlife. While selective harvesting produces less timber per acre in the short term, it maintains the long-term productivity and ecological health of the forest.