SPEAK: Oregon State Forest Values and Beliefs Survey DUE APRIL 30, 2010

The Northwest Trail Alliance has participated in discussions that have helped to shape the governing rules by which State of Oregon forest lands are managed.  These rules are commonly known as the "Greatest Permanent Value."  See previous posts (http://www.nw-trail.org/node/1093) for more background information.  As we are aware, the lands owned by the State of Oregon are owned by us - the citizens of Oregon.  We permit the State to manage these lands for the common good to all.  The State of Oregon is currently seeking your input for how best to manage these lands through the completion of a short survey (accessible directly from www.forestvalues.org/odfsurvey or from the top link on the State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Forestry website http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/).

Please take a moment and complete this survey to let the State of Oregon know how you think the forest land should be managed.  Personally and as a mountain biker, I will be letting them know that I feel that State of Oregon forest lands should be better managed for social benefits and specifically for diverse mountain bike recreational infrastructure.

Additional information regarding the survey is included below from the consultant working for the Oregon Department of Forestry to conduct this survey.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and to complete the online survey!
Ryan K.
Tillamook Recreation Advisory Committee:
Mountain Bike Community Representative 2008-2009

Good morning,
 
This month, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is cooperating with the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) to conduct sampling of Oregonians’ values and beliefs regarding forestry and current forest issues.  These random, statistically-valid surveys and focus groups will directly inform OFRI’s communications work and both ODF’s and the Board of Forestry’s strategic planning processes.   The Board will receive a report on this work at its September meeting.
 
In addition, our contractor, David Hibbitts, and Midgall Inc., has established a separate, informal survey that is now posted on ODF’s home page: http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/.    Please consider taking this five-minute survey yourself and forward the home page link and a request to take the survey to your partner organizations, stakeholders, friends, and family .  All responses will be valuable (in a less scientific way than the other surveys) in helping us understand what Oregonians’ perceptions and opinions are when it comes to forestry.  Other benefits may include getting more citizens engaged in thinking about the importance of our forest resources and perhaps attracting more people to our website where they can  learn more about ODF’s work in addition to taking the survey.
 
The ODF online survey will be available through April 30.
 
Thanks!
 
David Morman, Director
Forest Resources Planning Program
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
2600 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97310
503-945-7413 (fax 503-945-7490)