Saying goodbye to Maurice Williamson

CeciliaBLOG

  The forestry sector lost a beloved steward, friend and trusted voice last week. Former small forest landowners champion and forestry elder statesman, Maurice Williamson, passed away on Sunday, March 3rd. He was 77 years old. Though born and raised in northeast Missouri, Maurice spent more than a half century (53 years) in Washington state as a professional forester and … Read More

Navigating Forest Carbon Markets: A Guide for Landowners

cindyBLOG

Navigating Forest Carbon Markets: A Guide for Landowners A recent peer-reviewed study was released as a guide for small landowners about forest carbon, offsets and markets conducted by Oregon, Washington, and Idaho State Universities. Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide. Forest carbon markets offer opportunities for landowners to manage their forests … Read More

2024 Legislative Session reaches significant milestone

CeciliaBLOG

The 2024 legislative session is nearly at the halfway point. As the case with all legislative sessions happening during even numbered years, this year’s convening will be a shorter 60-day session with the final day of session March 7th. This means lawmakers had less time to advance their policy bills with the committee cutoff on January 31st. This also will … Read More

WFPA’s John Ehrenreich named Society of American Foresters Fellow

CeciliaNEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27, 2023 Contact: Cindy Mitchell, (360) 791-9372, CMitchell@wfpa.org WFPA’s John Ehrenreich named Society of American Foresters Fellow Washington DC – A national organization representing forestry professionals is honoring a respected industry voice in Washington state. The Society of American Foresters (SAF) has named John H. Ehrenreich Jr. of the Washington Forest Protection Association a 2023 SAF … Read More

Washington residents support active forest management

CeciliaBLOG

An overwhelming majority of Washington residents back the forestry sector and working forests. That’s according to a recent poll that found most Washington voters – 89% – throughout all four corners of the state saying they support forest management to promote thriving, healthy forests. Forest management refers to efforts taken by the forest products sector to sustainably grow, harvest, replant … Read More

Wildfire smoke draws attention to importance of forest management

CeciliaBLOG

Forest fires and wildfire smoke were on the minds of many last week as smoke blanketed every corner of Washington state, making national news and dominating local news headlines. But as firefighters work to contain the multiple large fires on both sides of the Cascades, one thing is painfully clear, unmanaged forests are amplifying an already challenging – and dangerous … Read More

Carbon Stored in Wood Products Extends the Carbon Benefit

cindyBLOG

Wood and wood products are key to better carbon capture Aug. 25, 2023 at 9:00 am Updated Aug. 25, 2023 at 9:00 am By  Washington Forest Protection Association Produced by ST Content Studio Washington state has set an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 95% by 2050. The health of our forests will play a critical role in this reduction. … Read More

Forest management reduces wildfire risk

CeciliaBLOG

An overwhelming majority of people (83%) say forest management reduces wildfire risk and support it as a means of preventing them. That’s according to a recent poll that finds people are increasingly recognizing the critical role sustainable forestry practices and working forests play in maintaining forest health to help protect against catastrophic wildfires. Research and practical application consistently demonstrate active … Read More

Engaging private landowners, stakeholders key to good policymaking

CeciliaBLOG

The Washington State Legislature concluded its work over the weekend, wrapping up the 2023 session Sunday. There were the usual complement of high-profile policy bills and budget decisions. But as usual, there were also a slew of simple, good bills that quietly made their made through the session with bipartisan support relatively unnoticed. It is in these batch of bills where … Read More

Working forests critical to addressing climate change

CeciliaBLOG

The Whatcom County Forestry Advisory Committee invited researcher Dr. Edie Sonne Hall  of Three Trees Consulting to speak at their April meeting and share her insights on how forest management mitigates climate change. The topic is timely as communities, governments and policymakers search for ways to reduce the amount of CO2 gas in our atmosphere to lessen the impacts of … Read More

Honoring Billy Frank Jr.

CeciliaBLOG

On March 9th of every year, Northwest Treaty Tribes, schools and numerous agencies and organizations (including the Washington Forest Protection Association) throughout Washington state celebrate Billy Frank Jr. Day. The ninth day in March, Frank’s birthday, is a day to recognize and honor a man who left an indelible mark in the state’s history and beyond. For those who had … Read More

2023 Washington Legislative session begins

CeciliaBLOG

After two years of remote lawmaking, Washington state legislators returned to Olympia for the first in-person session since 2020. A return to pre-pandemic normal means legislative buildings are once again open to the public and there will be more face-to-face interactions with lawmakers – albeit some adjustments in the House and Senate have been made to support the health and … Read More

2022 Year in Review

CeciliaBLOG

Washington’s private forest landowners continue to lead the way, and 2022 was no different. Whether it is applying the best science to support salmon recovery efforts or following proven-effective approaches to promote healthy, resilient forests, working forests demonstrate every day that they provide environmental, economic and societal benefits throughout the state. This is all happening while Washington’s foresters supply communities … Read More

114th WFPA Annual Meeting recognizes, celebrates working forests

CeciliaBLOG, NEWS & EVENTS

Collaboration and building strong partnerships were the overarching themes at the 114th Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) Annual Meeting in Olympia. The meeting, which can be viewed on TVW in parts one and two, featured forestry sector leaders and elected officials recognizing the critical role Washington’s working foresters and private forest landowners play in the state’s economy, salmon recovery and … Read More

Late wildfire season underscores importance of forest management

CeciliaBLOG

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources reported the 2022 wildfire season to be the least destructive in a decade with just over 140,300 acres burned by October 7th. In addition to a dedicated firefighting crew and key partnerships with other agencies, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz credited the passage of HB 1168 – passed unanimously by the Legislature in 2021 … Read More

Celebrating renewable, environmentally friendly forest products

CeciliaBLOG

This time of year is particularly special for working forests and the forestry sector because the third week in October is designated as National Forest Products Week. This is a time for US residents to recognize and honor the important contributions working forests and the forestry sector provide for the nation, state and local communities. Working forests and the forest … Read More

State recognizes large private forest landowners

CeciliaBLOG

Washington agencies recently honored many of the state’s largest private forest landowners – including several Washington Forest Protection Association members – for their efforts to improve fish habitat. During the August Forest Practices Board meeting and in a joint news release, Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Ecology (DOE) and Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) applauded … Read More

State forest practices study finds high compliance among working forests

CeciliaBLOG

Working forests remain committed partners to protecting and improving fish habitat. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released its biennium Compliance Monitoring Program report assessing how well working forests are conforming to forest practice rules put in place to protect riparian areas on both sides of streams to keep water cool and clean. The report found that an … Read More

UW architecture students explore design, structural possibilities of wood

CeciliaBLOG

Wood, one of the world’s oldest building materials, is now considered a material of the future – thanks to advances in the timber and design industries. Architecture students at the Barry Onouye Endowed Studio at the University of Washington dedicated 10 weeks of learning about the design potential of wood and put into practice their ideas this spring quarter. Students … Read More

An inspirational story of forest restoration

CeciliaBLOG

What is required to build a forest from scratch? According to Robert and Kazuko Barker of Nelson Road Tree Farm in Deming: thousands of baby trees, hundreds of biodegradable plastic tubing, fencing and plenty of persistence. A Whatcom County tree farm and its owners received high praise and recognition for their determination and commitment to forestry recently. The Washington Tree … Read More

Expect a higher-than-average wildfire season, experts predict

CeciliaBLOG

The upcoming wildfire season could yield higher than typical forest fire activity in parts of Washington state. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) anticipates an above-average wildfire season in eastern Washington due in large part to drought. While western Washington has experienced a wetter and cooler spring, it hasn’t been the case for eastern Washington. In fact, the NIFC noted … Read More

The 2022 Legislative Session as seen through the eyes of a forester

CeciliaBLOG

Things move quickly in a short, 60-day session and this year was no different. The 2022 Washington State Legislature began January 10th and concluded March 10th. Aside from being the first-ever fully virtual legislative biennium, the 2021 – 2022 legislative sessions resulted in the largest biennial budget in state history paid for in large part from existing tax collections and … Read More

UW touts new hall made from mass timber

CeciliaBLOG

The newest building at the University of Washington (UW) could represent a significant step forward in sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the Seattle campus. Acclaimed in a Puget Sound Business Journal article as “one of the greenest buildings on campus” and lauded in a UW blog as a “genuine showpiece on the University of Washington campus,” Founders Hall … Read More

State Sen. Tim Sheldon to retire

CeciliaBLOG

State Senator Tim Sheldon (D-Potlatch), the Washington State Legislature’s longest-serving member, won’t seek another term in the fall. Sheldon announced his retirement the last day of the 2022 Legislative Session. Sheldon, with roots in the timber sector and whose family are private forest landowners, grew up along Hood Canal. It was his lifelong understanding of local priorities and focus on … Read More

Chinook Forest Partners to sell 35,000 acres near Wenatchee for public benefit

CeciliaBLOG

A significant swath of working forest lands near Wenatchee could be set aside for public and other uses down the road. Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently announced an agreement with Chinook Forest Partners, an Oregon-based timberlands management group with working forests in Oregon and Washington state, that would allow for greater community involvement in the future ownership and management … Read More