(1) The Natural Heritage Advisory Council is hereby established. The council shall consist of 17 members, nine of whom shall be chosen as follows and who shall elect from its membership a chairperson:
(a) Four individuals, appointed by the Governor, shall be recognized experts in the ecology of natural areas. Desirable fields of expertise are botany, zoology, terrestrial ecology, aquatic biology and geology; and
(b) Five citizens, appointed by the Governor, shall be selected from the various regions of the state. These members shall have interest in natural resource conservation, management or the commodity use of natural resources.
(2) Appointed members shall serve for four-year terms.
(3) In addition to the nine members appointed by the Governor, the State Fish and Wildlife Director, the State Forester, the Director of Transportation, the Chancellor of the Oregon University System, the Director of Agriculture, the State Parks and Recreation Director, the State Geologist and the Director of the Department of State Lands or an authorized representative of each such officer, shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the council.
(4) Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by appointment of the Governor.
(5) Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but the State Land Board may pay the expenses reasonably incurred by the council in the performance of its functions upon presentation of vouchers signed by the chairperson of the council pursuant to ORS 292.495.
(6) The council shall:
(a) Meet at least quarterly;
(b) Develop policy for the Natural Heritage Program through the review and approval of the Oregon Natural Heritage Plan;
(c) Review nominations for registration and the voluntary dedication of natural heritage conservation areas, and approve instruments of dedication for such areas;
(d) Advise the State Land Board, State Board of Forestry, State Fish and Wildlife Commission, State Parks and Recreation Commission, State Board of Higher Education and Oregon Transportation Commission regarding areas under their respective jurisdictions which are appropriate for dedication; and
(e) Advise the board in the adoption of rules that it considers necessary in carrying out ORS 273.563 to 273.591.
(7) The board shall adopt any rules pursuant to ORS chapter 183 that it considers necessary to carry out ORS 273.563 to 273.591.
(8) Acting through the Department of State Lands, the council may accept gifts or donations of real property. Such real property shall be held in the name of the State of Oregon by the State Land Board and shall be used for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of ORS 273.563 to 273.591. [1979 c.711 §3; 1983 c.786 §4; 1987 c.172 §1; 1989 c.63 §1; 1991 c.121 §1; 1993 c.741 §24; 1997 c.632 §3; 1999 c.238 §1]
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