In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., host Sen. Mike McLane and State Senators David Brock Smith and Daniel Bonham are joined by legal veteran John DiLorenzo to uncover the devastating impact of Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and forest mismanagement. What starts as a policy discussion turns into a hard-hitting exposé on the structural dismantling of rural Oregon’s economy.
The Root of the Issue: Broken Promises to Rural Counties
At the heart of the debate is Oregon’s Department of Forestry and its failure to uphold long-standing agreements with counties that deeded forestlands to the state. Originally promised a significant share of timber revenue to fund local services like schools and hospitals, these counties now face massive losses — including a $1.5 million annual shortfall to the Jewell School District alone.
The Habitat Conservation Plan: Hidden Deals, Public Cost
The panel discusses how the HCP was negotiated behind closed doors, excluding counties who stood to lose the most. The result? 55% of Oregon’s state forest land has been placed off-limits to harvest, a decision that will eliminate 900 jobs and slash timber production by over 80 million board feet annually.
Who’s Paying the Price?
As forestry jobs vanish and tax revenues plummet, rural Oregonians are left with decaying roads, shuttered schools, and rising drug use — all while Oregon imports 25% of its raw logs from Canada. The environmental costs, including wildfire risk and increased carbon emissions, are mounting. Meanwhile, the state scrambles to backfill the shortfall by shifting general fund money away from schools and public safety.
An Unaccountable Board and a Broken System
Much of the blame is directed at Oregon’s Board of Forestry — particularly appointees from recent Democratic governors — and their ideological agenda that prioritizes recreation and optics over sustainable forest management. The discussion ends with a powerful call to action: Oregonians must demand transparency, efficiency, and a return to balanced stewardship.