Legislature appropriates funds for Butte Falls community forest purchase
The Oregon Legislature appropriated $700,000 to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for accomplishing the purchase of a community forest for the town of Butte Falls, Oregon. The funds match a grant awarded by the US Forest Service and complete the needed funds for the full purchase price of the forestland.
The town of Butte Falls in Oregon’s Jackson County is working on a project to bring in the forested land surrounding the town, including Butte Falls, into the city. The town sees an “opportunity to develop an innovative approach to stewardship of forest lands that will become a model for how small remote communities can use their forests to develop sustainable economies.” They want to support the following values: 1) creating economic opportunity and promoting the health of the forest; 2) increasing the town’s residential areas, urban growth boundary and enterprise zone; and 3) supporting education and research in forestry stewardship. Oregon Solutions conducted an assessment of the project to identify opportunities for collaboration. The governor has since designated the project an official Oregon Solutions project, and Oregon Solutions is providing project management and facilitation.