WFPA - Washington Forest Protection Association

Almost 37% of the Forestland in Washington is Privately Owned

Thirty-seven percent of Washington's forestland, about 7.8 million acres, is owned or managed by private landowners.

A little over one-third of Washington's forests are privately owned, mostly by companies that grow trees for the continuous production of forest products. About 60% of our state's private forestland, 4.6 million acres, can be classified as being managed by "industrial private forest landowners." Industrial private forest landowners include companies and individuals operating wood-using plants, as well as non-commercial companies and individuals with statewide holdings of 1,000 acres or more.

The other 40% of private ownership, about 3.2 million acres, consists of small family tree farmers and private individuals. Classified as non-industrial private forest landowners, these are companies and individuals not operating wood-using plants and having statewide holdings totaling less than 1,000 acres. Many of these lands have been held by families for generations. Forest management goals vary from owner to owner. Some manage for income from timber harvesting, some manage for recreation, and some preserve wildlife habitat.

Through collaboration between our various levels of membership, innovative forest practices can be shared with all private foresters across the state of Washington.