Washington State is one of the best places in the world to grow and harvest trees.

The state has the highest percentage of land in the high-site productivity class, which leads to extremely high growth rates. A stand of intensively managed Douglas fir, for example, absorbs more than 9 metric tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per acre at its peak average growth – nearly 10 times more CO2e than Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine forests in the same region.

Forests in Washington play a vital role in achieving the state’s ambitious goal of reducing net carbon emissions by 95 percent by 2050, with healthy and growing trees acting as nature’s carbon capturers, sequestering carbon dioxide quickly. The state’s unique advantage lies in its capacity to capture and store more carbon than any other, but effective forest management is key, as ownership type and management style directly impact carbon-capturing performance. Despite inherent forest risks, a comprehensive carbon blueprint emphasizes the importance of growing more trees and using more wood, positioning resilient forests at the forefront of Washington’s climate contributions. By actively managing working forests, the state can achieve greater climate mitigation while supporting rural economies and contributing to the global effort against climate change.

Healthy Forests and Wood Products Are Good for the Environment.

Our foresters and tree planters start the new forest growing again by replanting three trees for every one harvested. On average, just 2% of working forests are harvested each year, providing a sustainable supply of carbon-storing wood products and healthy growing forests.

We envision Washington putting healthy, productive, and resilient forests at the center of its climate contributions by leveraging its existing strengths – its productive forests, strong forest sustainability assurances, and commitment to renewable energy and transportation.

Learn more at: Working Forests Carbon Blueprint