FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Skyline Forest legislation passes House, heads to Governor, and starts the clock ticking for Deschutes Land Trust

Skyline Forest legislation has passed the Oregon House providing a means for the Deschutes Land Trust to conserve more than 100 square miles of forest in Central Oregon.

On Tuesday, Skyline Forest legislation passed the Oregon House and now heads to the Governor for his signature. HB 2228 provides a means for the Deschutes Land Trust to conserve Skyline Forest, the 33,000 acre forest overlooking Bend, Oregon. Once the Governor signs the bill, Fidelity National Timber, owners of Skyline Forest, will have up to five years to file a master plan for their development. Filing of the master plan will then trigger a three year race for the Deschutes Land Trust to raise the funds to purchase and conserve more than 100 square miles of forest.

In May legislators asked Fidelity, Central Oregon LandWatch and the Deschutes Land Trust to meet and negotiate a deal that creates an incentive for the landowner to limit the “footprint” of their development. Under current law Skyline could have been broken into 240 acre homesites. Should the Fidelity choose to use the new legislation, the Land Trust would have the opportunity to conserve up to 66,500 acres (31,800 acres within Skyline Forest and 34,700 acres near the Little Deschutes River) of forestland in Central Oregon at timber, rather than development value.

“This legislation provides a way to conserve the private forests of Central Oregon. After five years of work, we now see a clear path towards permanent protection and we’re grateful for willingness of Fidelity and LandWatch to roll up their sleeves. This is truly landmark forest conservation,” said Brad Chalfant, Deschutes Land Trust Executive Director.

Continued local support is essential, as the Deschutes Land Trust will now have to raise the funds to purchase the forests from Fidelity.  “Though we’re not launching a campaign today, we have to grow the Land Trust to be ready for the purchase. Once the Skyline owners file a master plan, the Land Trust will have three years to raise the funds necessary to conserve Skyline Forest. Much of the funding will come from agencies, foundations, and the forest authority, but local support is critical, since all those outside sources will be watching to see how the local community supports the project” commented Chalfant.

Skyline Forest is a 33,000 acre forest west of Bend and south of Sisters in Central Oregon. A former tree farm, the forest constitutes much of the scenic view for Central Oregon, while providing important wildlife habitat and outstanding recreational opportunities. The Land Trust would conserve the forest as a sustainably managed community forest. The legislation would also allow the Land Trust to conserve portions of the historic Gilchrist Tree Farm running south from Sunriver along the Little Deschutes River to the town of Crescent in Klamath County.  Protection of the Gilchrist Tree Farm would protect an important mule deer migration corridor and public access, while maintaining sustainable timber production for local mills.

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves land for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. Since 1995, the Land Trust has protected more than 7,200 acres in Central Oregon. For more on information on Deschutes Land Trust, contact us at (541) 330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.

Deschutes Land Trust
Lands in trust protected forever

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