Gov. Tina Kotek wants Oregon to go full force on harnessing the potential of forests, farms, wetlands and waterways to reduce emissions, preserve wildlife habitat and help communities withstand the threat of climate change .

That’s the focus of a sweeping executive order Kotek issued on Thursday to prioritize conservation on both natural landscapes such as forests or wetlands as well as on so-called working lands – farms, ranches and commercial timberlands. It also includes waterways and state-managed ocean waters.

Kotek’s order calls on state agencies to collectively protect or restore 10% more land and waterways over the next decade, based on current baseline conditions, with a focus on safeguarding the most climate-resilient landscapes.

The mandate does not include specific acreag

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