Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee
The Oregon Climate Action Commission convened a Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee to advise the commission on its work to advance natural climate solutions in Oregon.
As directed by HB 3409 (2023), the OCAC and the Oregon Department of Energy are engaged in several initiatives to support the implementation of activities that enhance or protect net biological carbon sequestration on natural and working lands across the state. These initiatives include:
Producing an inventory of net biological carbon sequestered and stored on natural and working lands to establish a baseline
Adopting goals to increase biological carbon sequestration beyond this baseline
Identifying activity-based and community impact metrics to evaluate progress in increasing the amount of carbon that is sequestered and stored across Oregon’s diverse landscapes
Studying the workforce and training programs needed to support implementation of natural climate solutions on the state’s natural and working lands
In consultation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, ODOE and the OCAC are also responsible for tracking and reporting on the progress of investments made through the state’s Natural and Working Lands Fund created through HB 3409.
The Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee members reflect a diversity of expertise, perspectives, and lived experiences centered around Oregon’s natural and working lands and the numerous industries, vocations, and interests that are intrinsically linked to these landscapes. Advisory Committee members have expertise in agriculture, forestry, conservation, ranching, recreation, coastal wetlands, and a multitude of land management practices.
The Committee will convene monthly over the course of 2025 and beyond to provide input, advice, and recommendations to support ODOE’s and the OCAC’s natural climate solutions work.