Timber Wars
Latest Stories
‘Salmon Wars’ episode 1: The family
“Salmon Wars” tells the story of salmon in the Northwest in a way you haven’t heard before — through the voices of one Yakama Nation family who have been fighting for salmon for generations. In episode 1, host Tony Schick introduces us to Randy Settler and his family.
The Oregon timber industry won huge tax cuts in the 1990s. Now it may get another break thanks to a top lawmaker
As the cost of fighting wildfires increases, state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner has proposed a bill — developed in consultation with the logging industry — that would shift millions in expenses away from the biggest landowners and onto taxpayers.
Oregon lawmakers set out to increase the timber industry’s tax bill. Instead, they cut it again.
Legislators cut taxes for the owners of Oregon’s private forests, which helped fund university forest scientists. Now taxpayers will pick up the tab.
After our investigation, Oregon House moves to curb forest institute’s power and budget
One lawmaker called the changes a ‘critical correction to an agency that veered far off course.’
Oregon’s timber industry says it can’t afford new taxes, despite record profits
Lobbyists claim the timber industry is "up against the ropes." Here's what they're not saying: Lumber prices are at record highs and profits are soaring.
‘Timber Wars’ bonus episode: Wildfire
The fight over wildfire and forest management is the newest front in the Timber Wars, so after a year of record fires, we take a deep dive into OPB's reporting on wildfire and what we should do about it.
Timber tax cuts cost Oregon towns billions. Then clear-cuts polluted their water and drove up its price
Rural communities in Oregon are being saddled with millions of dollars in costs to provide their citizens with clean, safe drinking water because the state isn’t protecting their watersheds from logging-related contamination.
‘Timber Wars’ bonus episode: Big money bought the forest
Reporter Tony Schick and "Timber Wars" host Aaron Scott discuss OPB's private forestry investigation with ProPublica and The Oregonian.
‘Timber Wars’ episode 7: A way forward
A group of loggers and environmentalists have found some semblance of common ground in the midst of the Timber Wars.
What’s changed in Oregon since the Timber Wars?
What's changed in the 30 years since Oregon was thrust into the spotlight during the "Timber Wars"? Three "Oregon Field Guide" stories reflect on the spotted owl, the culture of the timber community of Philomath and whether one successful effort to find a compromise in John Day can reveal a path forward.