Oregon’s natural landscapes and working lands — from forests and farmlands to wetlands and urban green areas — are set to receive stronger protections under a new climate-focused executive order signed by Governor Tina Kotek this week.
Executive Order 25-26: Coordinated Climate Strategy for Lands and Water
Governor Kotek has directed state agencies to align their policies and integrate climate-resilience measures into all programs overseeing natural and working lands. This directive follows recommendations issued in September by the Pew Charitable Trusts, and environmental groups have welcomed the move.
Karen Lewotsky of the Oregon Environmental Council said the order will help the state’s 14 natural resource agencies work in unison to protect valuable ecosystems and ensure clean and reliable water for communities.
Key Targets Set for the Next Decade
Under the new order, Oregon will work to safeguard 10% more of its most climate-resilient lands and waters within ten years. State departments are required to establish baselines and track progress.
Governor Kotek emphasized the climate and economic significance of Oregon’s natural spaces:
“Oregon’s forests, grasslands, farms, and wetlands deliver critical benefits and can store more carbon. We will unlock their potential by protecting priority lands and helping landowners adapt to climate change.”
The order also instructs agencies to use scientific assessments to:
- Identify areas already resilient to climate impacts and likely to remain stable in the future.
- Identify areas that could become resilient through restoration or targeted intervention.
Support for Landowners, Farmers, and Local Economies
Beyond conservation, the directive seeks to streamline processes for farmers, ranchers, foresters, fishers, and other landowners to adopt climate-smart practices. Agencies must also develop a unified reporting system to measure climate outcomes on natural lands.
Pew Charitable Trusts’ conservation lead Andrew Maggi praised the move as essential to both environmental stability and long-term economic well-being of Oregon communities.
Climate Threats Already Visible in Oregon
Rising temperatures and continued fossil fuel emissions have driven intense weather events—such as the 2020 Labor Day wildfires that scorched nearly 850,000 acres—threatening forest health and reducing carbon absorption capacity.
Natural ecosystems like tidal wetlands, old-growth forests and grasslands are key carbon sinks. According to the Oregon Climate Action Commission, U.S. natural lands offset 12% of national greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 — and that figure could double with stronger protections.
The Commission’s 2021 proposal called on Oregon to sequester an additional 5 million metric tons of carbon by 2030, equal to the benefit of planting 82 million trees and letting them grow for a decade.
Path Forward
The Commission earlier outlined four core strategies to reduce emissions through land-based climate action. Governor Kotek’s executive order effectively puts those strategies into motion, positioning Oregon as a national model for climate-smart land stewardship.
