Section 526.425 - Management assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners; rulesRecognizing that nonindustrial private forests make a vital contribution to Oregon by providing jobs, products, tax base and other social and economic benefits, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of the State of Oregon to encourage management of nonindustrial private forestlands for tree production. Therefore, under the direction of the State Board of Forestry and to the extent funds are available, the State Forester shall:
(1) Provide for coordinated technical and financial assistance to the nonindustrial private forest landowner;(2) Provide management planning for nonindustrial private forestlands;(3) Advise and encourage nonindustrial private forest landowners to carry out young growth management activities, such as converting underproductive forestlands, reforestation, release, precommercial thinning and salvaging insect or disease damaged trees;(4) Administer federal programs, such as the Agricultural Conservation Program or Forestry Incentives Program, that are designed to help encourage management of nonindustrial private forestlands;(5) Advise and encourage nonindustrial private forest landowners to form cooperatives or aggregates for the purpose of more efficiently carrying out their young growth management activities;(6) Periodically advise and recommend changes to the Legislative Assembly on laws conflicting with the intent of this statute; and(7) In compliance with ORS chapter 183, promulgate rules consistent with law for providing management planning for nonindustrial private forestlands.