Statement from Washington Forest Protection Association Executive Director Jason Spadaro in response The Seattle Times’ story on Washington State’s fish passage program: “Washington’s sustainably managed working forests have long led the way in salmon recovery efforts, balancing societal and wildlife habitat needs. As what is quite possibly the most successful model of landscape conservation in Washington state, the Forests and … Read More
Saying goodbye to Maurice Williamson
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
AFRC Submits Comments on Northwest Forest Plan, National Old Growth Amendments
February 2, 2024 The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) today submitted formal comments to the U.S. Forest Service on amending the 30-year-old Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) governing the management of 17 national forests and over 24 million acres in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Separately, AFRC submitted formal comments in response to the Forest Service’s Notice of Intent that proposes … Read More
2024 Legislative Session reaches significant milestone
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
Expanding Our Scope: Working Forest Carbon Blueprint Unveils Comprehensive Strategy for Carbon Management and Sustainable Forestry
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) proudly announces the Working Forest Carbon Blueprint website launch. This comprehensive resource extends beyond the use of wood in construction to encompass a broader range of carbon forestry issues. This initiative represents a collaborative effort among industry leaders, including the Washington Farm Forestry Association, Washington Friends of Farms & Forests, American … Read More
WFPA highlights benefits healthy, working forests provide at Annual Meeting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 17, 2023 Contact: Cindy Mitchell, 360-791-9372 WFPA highlights benefits healthy, working forests provide at Annual Meeting Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) members and forestry sector partners convened Thursday (November 16th) at the Indian Summer Golf & Country Club for the 2023 annual meeting. WFPA, the trade association for the state’s private forest landowners, is a … Read More
WFPA’s John Ehrenreich named Society of American Foresters Fellow
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
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
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
Forest management reduces wildfire risk
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
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
Managed Forests and Wood Products: A climate solution
A recently released fact sheet created by the American Forest Resource Council succinctly summarizes how and why working forests and the wood products sector benefit the climate. Sustainably managed forests and durable wood products provide a critical climate mitigation benefit. That’s because wood products store carbon. And, if used in place of more energy and carbon intensive building materials like … Read More
AFRC responds to Biden Administration report on mature and old-growth forests
American Forest Resource Council president Travis Joseph responded to the Biden Administration’s announcement on policies relating to mature and old-growth forests on federal lands in a news release. Said Joseph in response to the Biden Administration’s announcement: “This announcement and year-long effort confirms what we’ve known: we’re not lacking old growth, we’re lacking common sense in stewarding our forests. Our … Read More
Defining Mature and Old Growth
The Society of American Foresters released an informative fact sheet defining mature and old-growth forests and the importance of applying science-based policies as the Biden Administration works to define, identify and inventory mature and old-growth forests. The fact sheet also underscores that protecting old-growth forests includes promoting forest health to prevent loss from severe wildfire and other forest stressors. After all, … Read More
Working forests critical to addressing climate change
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
USDA Forest Service and National Alliance of Forest Owners agree to enhance cooperation during wildfires
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FORMALIZES PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE CROSS-BOUNDARY WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) announced today a memorandum of understanding creating a partnership to enhance cooperation between private working forest owners and public land managers during wildfires. Federal, state and private forest owners and managers … Read More
Commentary: Keep state’s working forests in climate change fight
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 federal forests found sustainably managed working forests … 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