Tim Hermach and Bill Barton will describe some of the impacts of the forest product tax structure on our state, individuals, corporations and the local economy. Tim, founder and executive director of the Native Forest Council, works diligently for the permanent recovery and protection of the lungs of the planet, our forests, rivers, and streams. Bill Barton has also worked in the national forests on small dead-tree salvage sales and as an independent contractor doing residential, commercial and environmental projects.

Their presentation will focus on what they view as serious problems with current forest management practices, the timber market glut, unfair government competition, severance taxes, property taxes, and individual taxpayer issues. They will describe the BLM's Western Oregon Plan Revisions, Defazio's Legacy Forest Act (currently in the pipeline), Stewardship Contracting and its potential impacts on the O&C Act of 1937 and county budgets, and the latest incarnation of the Spotted Owl "Recovery" Plan. They will briefly sketch a few dimensions of the difficult and complex issues facing our counties and our precious public forests and watersheds.

Program coordinator: Mary Leighton

Our first question will be asked by Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson.