The extent and implications of specified resource site protection in Oregon

Graduation date: 2005The protection of sensitive resources is an integral part of forest practices regulations in many states, affecting non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners. In Oregon, forest operations on private lands which will conflict with sensitive areas designated "specified resource sites" must meet spatial and temporal requirements to protect those sites. These protection requirements may restrict a landowner's intended forest operation. The extent to which specified resource site protection requirements affect both industrial and nonindustrial private forest operations and the perceptions, attitudes, and responses of nonindustrial private forest owners to specified resource site protection are generally unknown. Research objectives included: 1.) Determine the extent of forest operation - specified resource site interactions in Oregon, 2.) Determine the extent of forest operation - specified resource site interactions in selected ODF administrative units, and 3.) Examine and describe NIPF landowner perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding specified resource site protection. Methods included analysis and summary of ODF data regarding interactions between operations and potential specified resource sites, review of ODF documents, and interviews with landowners and ODF staff in selected administrative units. Key findings suggest that in the period 1993-2003: 1.) Less than 5% of intended forest operations potentially conflicted with specified resource sites, 2.) Approximately 64% of all potential conflicts were associated with industrial forest operations, and 3.) NIPF landowner responses to protection requirements depend upon a combination of land management objectives, values, and perceptions of power, communication and interpersonal dynamics, scientific credibility, and uncertainty. Suggestions for addressing NIPF concerns and clarifying protection policy are considered