Action Alert News Program Updates

Bark’s March News & Updates

Celebrate International Day of Forests on March 21st!

As we approach this year’s International Day of Forests on Saturday, March 21st, Bark is tracking a dizzying array of attacks on our forests here in Oregon, and national forests across the country. From a bill that would give away—for free—150 acres of Mt. Hood National Forest, to severe limits on public involvement in logging projects, threats to our last remaining intact ecosystems in roadless areas, and the latest proposal to drastically increase logging on BLM lands in western Oregon, one thing is certain. Bark has been here to defend Mt. Hood National Forest against impossible odds before, and we won’t back down now.

If you care about the future of our forests, please support Bark’s work to protect Mt. Hood. 

In this month’s newsletter, we’ve got an action alert about the Bureau of Land Management’s intent to increase logging in western Oregon, Forest Watch and Restoration updates, news we’re following, our recommendations for what to read and watch this International Day of Forests/Women’s History Month, and creative ways to support Bark’s work. 

As always, you can find all our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities on our website.

Action Alert! Comment on Notice of Intent to Maximize Logging on BLM Lands in Northwestern, Coastal, and Southwestern Oregon

Read the Notice of Intent 
Submit your comment here by March 23rd at 9 pm PDT 

Although this proposal does not directly impact Mt. Hood National Forest, we want to make sure our community is aware of it. The stated goal of the proposal is to “provide a sustained yield of timber production consistent with the maximum productive capacity” of BLM-administered public lands across Oregon. This proposal is the latest in a series of attacks by the current administration on our federally held forests, and would impact treasured places like the Sandy River, Molalla River, Marys Peak, Crabtree Valley, Alsea Falls, and the Rogue River. We encourage our supporters—especially those who live near any of the impacted areas—to submit a public comment by the deadline on March 23rd. 

Our partners in the PNW Forest Climate Alliance have worked very hard to assemble the following resources to help guide your comment writing:

• Interactive Map of affected BLM lands 
• Public comment guide by local advocate, Jennifer Trivelli 
• PNWFCA’s Talking Points (more detailed & technical) 

As always, Bark will work with our partners on any timber sales proposed on BLM lands adjacent to Mt Hood, and will help to get the word out for sales on BLM lands west of Portland.  

Want to do more? Sign this petition organized by our partners to show your opposition to this proposal.  

Forest Watch Updates

Jordan Latter, Forest Watch Program Manager

H.R. 655: We have been working behind the scenes with a coalition of partners to raise awareness of this bill and urge Senator Wyden to not support the bill as written. We’ve met with local community leaders and officials to learn their perspectives and to share our concerns directly. There has been no movement on the bill since early December, and with the gridlock in congress it could be stalled for some time. I will be sure to share any updates as things develop. In the meantime, Bark has created a poll to collect community perspectives on H.R. 655. We hope you’ll take a minute out of your day to complete the poll and share it with others.

Take the poll here!

MHNF Project updates: I was pleased to see that the scoping maps for the Anvil Creek project that were provided last October did not contain proposals to log mature and old growth forests. This was a result of Bark’s groundtruthing efforts last summer and ongoing dialogue with Mt. Hood staff. However, we are fairly certain that they will apply the Emergency Action Determination (dictated by USDA Sec. Rollins memo last April), which would narrow the scope of the analysis and eliminate objection periods. I am in talks with our partners at Crag Law Center to determine potential legal actions as the Forest Service pursues the inappropriate use of Emergency Authorities across the nation.  

Comment/objection periods: Thanks to everyone who submitted comments on the Forest Service’s recent proposal to drastically limit comment and objection periods. Bark signed onto several coalition letters opposing the proposal, which informed the public comment we submitted. We also met with Mt. Hood leadership to discuss our concerns about this proposal directly with them, as we view any efforts to reduce or eliminate public involvement and transparency on public lands as unacceptable. I am continuing to work with Mt. Hood staff to get project information early so that we can groundtruth and give informed, site-specific information to the Forest Service and our supporters.

Restoration Updates

Meg Waller, Restoration Program Manager

As I continue preparing for the upcoming field season, I’m working on several projects behind the scenes. Earlier this week, I attended the Beaver Institute’s monthly Full Co-Leadership Meeting as part of the Northwest Co-leadership Team. We are drafting the Beaver Network’s Strategic Plan, including regional priorities for the Northwest Region (CA, OR, WA, BC, AK). We will then use the Strategic Plan to prioritize actions and allocate resources to address these priorities within each region to support the work we all are doing on the ground.   

Next week, I’ll be up in Twisp, WA to help the Methow Beaver Project install and repair beaver coexistence devices, conduct riparian plantings. and more. All valuable knowledge and skills for Bark’s Restoration Program! We’ll also be checking on Chanel, the beaver I helped reintroduce in April 2025. She has bonded with another beaver in the pond and we’re hoping they have kits this spring!

Then on April 2nd, I’ll be attending an ODFW Fish Passage Workshop to learn more about the skills and tools needed for our upcoming restoration projects on Mt. Hood. 

Finally, since I’ve received so many questions about upcoming events, I hope you’ll join me for one or more of the following:

• Parrott Creek Restoration Day this Saturday 3/21, 10am-1pm. Come help us remove invasive plant species! 
• I’ll be speaking at OMSI’s upcoming Science Pub on 4/7. Get your tickets here!  
• Our April Parrott Creek amphibian survey is full, but we’re hosting another one in May. Sign up here! 
• Registration for Bark’s June campout will be posted by April 24. 
• Parrott Creek and Bark are hosting the Second Annual Indigenous Campout on Mt. Hood! Are you Indigenous and interested in joining? Email Meg@Bark-Out.org or AMartinez@PCreek.org for more info! 

News We’re Following

• Oregon Legislature approves one-year moratorium on key data center tax break
  A last-minute amendment to H.B.4084 during Oregon’s recent short legislative session exempts data centers from expanded tax breaks. The bill leaves the largest tax breaks for data centers in place but reflects a growing discomfort among Oregon communities with the growth of data centers and their ballooning water and electricity needs.
• Bennet, Hickenlooper call for ‘halt’ to consolidation of federal firefighting forces into U.S. Wildland Fire Service | AspenTimes.com
  As Oregonians and Americans across the western U.S. face record-low snowpack and thus increased risks of a severe wildfire season, the Trump administration has consolidated all of the federal government’s wildfire firefighting forces into an enormous new agency with no plan for implementation. Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Maxine Dexter were among the Democratic lawmakers who sent a letter to the Department of Interior Sec. Doug Burgum demanding answers about the new agency and its ability to meet the news of the upcoming wildfire season.
  • This news makes the PNW Forest Climate Alliance’s new Wildfire Messaging Guide all the more timely. Bark staff helped with writing and editing and we’ll be collaborating with our partners on a series of social media. Check it out & share widely!

Roots & Branches: International Day of Forests + Women’s History Month Edition

Read

Frontiers | Gender bias and inequity holds women back in their conservation careers 

Study demonstrating that women who work in the conservation sector, as with other sectors, continue to face systemic inequities in the workplace.

Watch

Tree Fest: A Celebration of Trees and Community
Thurs. April 2nd, 7pm at Tomorrow Theater
FREE – Get your tickets here

Tree Fest features a curated selection of short films that explore how trees influence our daily lives, our histories, and our hopes for the future. Through stories of scientists, artists, and local communities, the films highlight both the beauty of forests and the responsibility we share in caring for them. Following the screenings, a panel discussion will bring filmmakers and guests together to explore what it means to live in relationship with trees in a changing world.

Once Upon a Time in a Forest
Tues. April 14th, 7pm at Cinema 21
Get your tickets here

The Portland EcoFilm Festival presents the regional premiere of Virpa Suutari’s award-winning documentary, Once Upon a Time in a Forest, a cinematic ode to a group of young activists striving to defend Finland’s forests against the vested interests of the forestry industry and the political system.

Support our Work!

We’re trying something new with this section: featuring one of the many ways you can give to Bark each month! Already giving to another nonprofit through BottleDrop? Stay tuned for our next newsletter for more creative ways to support our work! 

Give to Bark through BottleDrop!