Oregon is on its way to creating North America’s largest research forest, following Tuesday’s decision by top state officials to separate the Elliott State Forest in southwest Oregon from its obligation to fund schools and designate the land as a place for scientific discovery.  The State Land Board voted unanimously Tuesday to create the 80,000-acre Elliott State Research Forest, signaling an end to a years-long debate over how to manage a state forest in southwest Oregon that was failing to generate revenue for public education. …The Elliott provides habitat to dwindling wildlife populations, including salmon, the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet. Oregon political leaders have been struggling for decades to find a way for the forest to comply with wildlife protection requirements while continuing to meet a legal obligation to generate revenue for public schools.