ORS § 321.805 — Definitions for ORS 321.805 to 321.855

As used in ORS 321.805 to 321.855, unless the context requires otherwise:

# (1)

“Cultured Christmas trees” means trees:

(a) Grown on lands used exclusively for that purpose, capable of preparation by intensive cultivation methods such as plowing or turning over the soil;

(b) Of a marketable species;

(c) Managed to produce trees meeting U.S. No. 2 or better standards for Christmas trees as specified by the Agriculture Marketing Services of the United States Department of Agriculture; and

(d) Evidencing periodic maintenance practices of shearing for Douglas fir and pine species, weed and brush control, and basal pruning, fertilizing, insect and disease control, stump culture, soil cultivation or irrigation.

# (2)

“Department” means the Department of Revenue.

# (3)

“Eastern Oregon” means that portion of the state lying east of a line beginning at the intersection of the northern boundary of the State of Oregon and the western boundary of Wasco County, thence south along the western boundaries of the counties of Wasco, Jefferson, Deschutes and Klamath to the southern boundary of the State of Oregon.

# (4)

“Forestland” means land in eastern Oregon that is being held or used for the predominant purpose of growing and harvesting trees of a marketable species and that has been designated as forestland under ORS 321.805 to 321.855 or land in eastern Oregon, the highest and best use of which is the growing and harvesting of such trees. Forestland is the land alone. Forestland often contains isolated openings that because of rock outcrops, river wash, swamps, chemical conditions of the soil, brush and other like conditions prevent adequate stocking of such openings for the production of trees of a marketable species. If such openings in their natural state are necessary to hold the surrounding forestland in forest use through sound management practices, the openings are deemed forestland.

# (5)

“State Forester” means the State Forester or the authorized representative of the State Forester.

# (6)

“Summit of the Cascade Mountains” means a line beginning at the intersection of the northern boundary of the State of Oregon and the western boundary of Wasco County, thence southerly along the western boundaries of the counties of Wasco, Jefferson, Deschutes and Klamath to the southern boundary of the State of Oregon.

# (7)

“Timber” means all logs which can be measured in board feet and other forest products as determined by department rule, but does not include western juniper or products from harvested western juniper. [1971 c.654 §2; 1977 c.892 §46; 1983 c.539 §4; 1995 c.79 §178; 1997 c.154 §53; 1999 c.314 §55; 1999 c.1078 §45; 2003 c.621 §53]

321.808 Purposes. The purposes of ORS 321.805 to 321.855 are:

(1) To impose with respect to forestland in eastern Oregon a special assessment program whereby the assessed value of forestland is determined as prescribed in ORS 321.201 to 321.222.

(2) To establish a special assessment program as a means of:

(a) Recognizing the findings in ORS 321.817 without discriminating in favor of either eastern or western Oregon.

(b) Recognizing the long-term nature of the forest crop and fostering the public policy of Oregon to encourage the growing and harvesting of timber.

(c) Protecting the public welfare by assuring that the people of this state and future generations shall have the benefits to be derived from the continuous production of forest products from private forestland.

(d) Promoting this state’s policy of encouraging forestry and the restocking of forestland to provide present and future benefits by enhancing the water supply, preventing erosion, providing habitat for wildlife, providing scenic and recreational opportunities and providing for needed products.