Washington Forest Protection Association executive director Jason Spadaro and American Forest Resource Council president Travis Joseph authored an op-ed in the Daily Herald urging the state to keep working forests working, including state trust lands. Shutting down working forests undermines the state’s ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing green building materials while promoting forest health. You can read … Read More
Honoring Billy Frank Jr.
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
Release: Working forests vital to mitigating climate change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 14, 2023 Contact: Cindy Mitchell, (360) 791-9372, CMitchell@wfpa.org Working forests vital to mitigating climate change Managed forests store more atmospheric carbon than federal lands, UW study finds Seattle – Working forests are critical to addressing climate change, a University of Washington study finds. Research examining private, state and … Read More
2023 Washington Legislative session begins
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
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
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
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
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
To improve forest health, we need prescribed burns
The past weekend of wildfires and hazy smoke in Washington state underscores more than ever the importance of forest management and how tools like thinning and prescribed fire are critical to promoting healthy, resilient forests. Catastrophic forest fires are growing in intensity and frequency due in large part to nearly 100 years of fire suppression policies on forest lands and … Read More
State recognizes large private forest landowners
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