Thursday, October 16, 2025
The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) and Associated Oregon Loggers (AOL) have jointly submitted comments to the U.S. Forest Service regarding its Draft Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Blue Mountains Forests Plan Revision. The two organisations are calling on the agency to strengthen its commitment to active, sustainable forest management while eliminating unscientific restrictions and overly complex directions that have limited benefits to forest health and resilience.
The Blue Mountains Forests Plan governs future management of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, which span more than five million acres in eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. These forests and their associated products are vital to local communities and regional economies. They support thousands of family-wage jobs in mills, logging companies, and small family-owned businesses involved in forest restoration.
“The forest products industry is indispensable to the health of the Blue Mountains forests,” said Andy Geissler, AFRC’s Federal Timber Program Director. “Local mills, logging companies, and contractors provide the expertise and capacity the Forest Service depends on to restore forest resilience, reduce wildfire risks, and maintain wildlife habitat. A successful plan must empower—not restrict—these efforts.”
Addressing Outdated and Counterproductive Forest Management Restrictions
AFRC and AOL acknowledged the Forest Service’s efforts to identify approximately 2.7 million acres as suitable for timber production but raised concerns over specific restrictions in the draft plan. One key issue is the “21-inch rule,” a diameter-based limit on tree harvests that has been in place since the Clinton-era Eastside Screens rule. This rule, the groups argue, is unscientific and counterproductive to restoring historic forest conditions.
“The 21-inch rule is not based on science, and it’s counterproductive to restoring historic forest conditions,” said Amanda Sullivan-Astor, Forest Policy Manager for AOL. “The Forest Service’s own research shows that focusing on tree diameter alone is a poor substitute for managing forests based on structure and species composition.”
AFRC and AOL highlighted multiple peer-reviewed studies from Oregon State University and the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, which demonstrate that rigid diameter limits hinder restoration efforts. These limits perpetuate overstocked forest stands, making them more susceptible to drought, insect infestations, and catastrophic wildfires. The organisations are calling for the Forest Service to replace these outdated restrictions with a science-based approach that focuses on forest structure, species composition, and the overall health of the ecosystem.
Supporting Responsible Management of Riparian Areas
The groups also urged the Forest Service to support responsible forest management in riparian areas, particularly near streams and wetlands. They noted that selective thinning in these areas could help improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce the risk of wildfires. Thinning riparian zones would contribute to broader forest health goals while addressing the increasing pressure on these sensitive ecosystems.
Additionally, AFRC and AOL encouraged the Forest Service to maintain realistic timber harvest levels that reflect the capacity of the forests. They also advocated for the use of innovative and safer harvesting technologies, such as tethered ground-based equipment on steep slopes, to help meet these harvest levels more efficiently.
“Rural communities in the Blue Mountains depend on predictable, science-based forest management,” Geissler said. “The final plan must move beyond outdated political compromises and empower professional foresters to use the best available science to care for these forests.”
Sullivan-Astor added, “We must allow proven technologies to be used to meet forest objectives. The Forest Service must keep pace with equipment and safety innovations for forest operators, allowing the full suite of harvest systems across its forested landscapes.”
The Need for a Science-Based and Predictable Forest Management Approach
The Blue Mountains Forests Plan Revision is set to guide the future management of these vital forests for decades to come. AFRC and AOL are urging the Forest Service to incorporate their science-based recommendations into the final plan to ensure that the forests are healthy, resilient, and capable of supporting both local communities and the forest products industry.
“By incorporating these recommendations, the Forest Service will help build more resilient forests, support vibrant rural communities, and sustain a forest products economy that is essential to the region’s future,” said Geissler.
About the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC)
The AFRC is a regional trade association representing over 50 forest product businesses and forest landowners. Its mission is to advocate for sustained-yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health, resilience, and resistance to fire, insects, and disease. AFRC promotes active management practices that aim to create productive public forests, protect private forests, and ensure the stability of forest-dependent communities.
About Associated Oregon Loggers (AOL)
Founded in 1969, AOL is the state trade association representing loggers and forest contractors across Oregon. Its membership includes nearly 1,000 companies involved in reforestation, firefighting, road building, logging, trucking, restoration, and harvest operations. These companies employ approximately 23,000 Oregonians and migrant workers who rely on forest-based work. AOL’s mission is to foster success for Oregon’s forest operators and ensure they are respected for their crucial role in maintaining the health of communities, forests, and the economy.
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Tags: AFRC, Associated Oregon Loggers, Blue Mountains Forests, sustainable forestry, U.S. Forest Service, wildfire prevention, woodworking industry
