The 2021 Washington legislative session wrapped up in late April after an historic 105 fully virtual days. The session began promising restraint and a focus on only a handful of policy issues. Indeed, the total bill count was lower than any session since the 1980’s. That said, many of the bills that did pass contained monumental and long sought-after policy … Read More
Addressing climate change requires working forests
Sustainably managed working forests sequester a lot of carbon. How much you ask? For the first time, Rayonier has released a report that provides a clear accounting of just how much of its own sustainable forestry business has helped remove CO2 gas from the atmosphere. According to the report, Rayonier’s measured timberland assets sequestered an estimated 5.7 million metric tons … Read More
Japan, Washington state say forestry sector has role in climate action
The forestry and wood products sectors have an important part to play in facilitating climate action today and into the future, according to panel of speakers at a virtual event last week. The Consulate General of Japan in Seattle hosted a webinar in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Forest Agency of Japan and JETRO San Francisco … Read More
A look at forest carbon from young versus old forests
Is age just a number when it comes to trees? If we’re talking about how trees within working forests help address climate change, the answer is ‘no,’ according to the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI). The NCASI, an organization dedicated to helping the forest products industry achieve its environmental and sustainability goals, created an infographic explaining how … Read More
2020 Year in Review: Five headlines underscore the importance of working forests
The Forestry sector can help address climate change: Sustainably managed working forests and the forestry sector as a whole is an important part of the state’s response to climate change, according to Washington state lawmakers, state agencies and 48 nationally recognized environmental and business leaders. During the 2020 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature passed and Gov. Jay Inslee signed … Read More
Private working forests help mitigate climate change
Forest landowners and wood products manufacturers across the United States are well-positioned to optimize the carbon potential of sustainable working forests. Leaders from 48 environmental, conservation and forest business leaders across the country recognize that private working forests and forest products can play an important role in mitigating climate change. Among the signatories are Washington Forest Protection Association members Green … Read More
Report names forestry sector as part of Washington’s green economy
Forestry is a vital component of Washington state’s green economy and climate change response, according to a state report that analyzed ways to connect that state’s greenhouse gas emission targets with economic development. The Washington State Department of Commerce and its Green Economy Work Group published a report this summer identifying forestry and building materials, energy, agriculture and water as … Read More
The 2020 Washington Legislature: As seen by private forest landowners
The 2020 Washington legislative session was, as expected, short and fast-moving. The Legislature wrapped up all business around 8:30 PM on March 12th. Of course, the last few weeks of the session were colored by the growing disruption of the coronavirus. Gov. Jay Inslee held the press conference that limited all public gatherings on the last day of the session, … Read More
Gov. Inslee signs forestry industry carbon bill
Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law on Wednesday, March 25th legislation that recognizes the essential role Washington state’s forestry industry and working forests play in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The legislation formally establishes a state policy recognizing and supporting the complete forest products sector as a climate solution, which includes landowners, mills, bioenergy, pulp and paper, harvesting and … Read More
Gov. Inslee presented with bill to recognize forest sector as part of climate solution
A bill recognizing the important role working forests play in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is set to become law. Washington lawmakers passed SB 6355 and HB 2528 in early March, sending the legislation to Gov. Jay Inslee for signing. Once enacted into law, state agencies would recognize and support efforts by timber companies to sequester carbon through reforestation … Read More
- Page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2