Working collaboratively to protect Oregon’s forests

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) was founded in 1911 through the establishment of the State Board of Forestry. Its stated mission is “to serve the people of Oregon by protecting, managing, and promoting stewardship of Oregon's forests to enhance environmental, economic, and community sustainability.”

ODF’s purview spans both private and public forested areas. It owns and manages the health and ecology for state forest lands (roughly 3% of Oregon’s forests), and regulates harvesting across all planted, private, and state forests. The department provides assistance and training resources to urban foresters and administers urban forestry programs, such as Tree City USA and Tree City of the Year.

A key facet of ODF’s work is in monitoring the health and hardiness of Oregon’s forests. A team of forest health experts—including pathologists, invasive species experts, and entomologists—capture annual aerial surveys of Oregon's forests, and compare them against a robust library of database records to identify historical trends in canopy health and to pinpoint areas of concern. These specialists then work to discover any causes of damage and, if necessary, institute remedial efforts to counteract the spread of invasive species or pathogens.

Recently, ODF has been at the forefront of efforts to study and reduce the spread of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB). In late 2023, in partnership with Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District (TSWCD), Clean Water Services (CWS), Metro, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), U.S. Forest Service, and others, ODF staff identified and created 108 trap trees on land owned by Metro and CWS near Forest Grove.

In their ongoing work to mitigate the spread of EAB and other threats to the health of Oregon’s forests, ODF seeks to provide residents, industry leaders, and landowners with the necessary tools and resources to help Oregon’s forests remain robust and resilient long into the future.

For more updates on ODF’s work, please subscribe to their news bulletin by emailing Jim Gersbach at jim.gersbach@odf.oregon.gov