Washington’s working forests have long led the way on environmental stewardship and sustainability. Recognizing early on that working forests require resilient trees and a healthy environment, Washington’s private forestland owners have embraced the guiding principle of using the best available science to improve and evolve forest practices. The certainty that good science will lead the way has contributed to a … Read More
Rural Democrats make a case for balanced natural resources policies
A proposal by two former public officials to end timber harvests on state trust lands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has drawn swift criticism from a current lawmaker, former Democratic state legislator and others. State Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24th) and former State Rep. Brian Blake (D-19th) both penned op-eds in different print publications criticizing … 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
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
Working forests represent hope, optimism
Forestry has always been about the future and taking a long-viewed approach. By the very nature of what they do, the stewards of sustainably managed working forests must plan decades ahead since it can take a half-century before the saplings planted today are harvested. Encapsulating the forward-looking mindset of working forests, the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) has introduced a … Read More
Resources for homeschooling parents
Above: Before the Coronavirus and social distancing, Port Blakely environmental education coordinator Kelly Stanley led students on a field trip. Port Blakely has partnered with Washington state schools to provide outdoor learning opportunities for 29 years. This photo was taken earlier when Port Blakely was offering tours prior to the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. Enjoy some of the artwork … 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
Airline industry eyes efforts to convert wood waste into aviation fuel
Air travel has long been identified as a carbon-intensive activity. This is especially so in the Pacific Northwest where Washington state residents generally travel greater distances to and from other major US cities. But the Port of Seattle and corporations like Alaska Airlines, The Boeing Company and Delta Air Lines are hoping to lower air travel’s carbon footprint – and … Read More
Washington Legislature recognizing working forests’ role in curbing climate change
The 2020 Washington State Legislature began this week and the issue of climate change will be on the minds of lawmakers throughout the 60-day session. To that end, several legislators in the House and Senate are recognizing that the state’s forest products sector has a part to play in the effort to address climate change. Washington forests and wood products … Read More
Washington state family given national outstanding tree farmer of the year award for habitat restoration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 5, 2019) – Today, the American Tree Farm System awarded the New family of Bellingham, Washington the National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year honor from among more than 73,000 certified Tree Farmers nationwide, thanks to their efforts to restore a portion of a critical watershed to help a threatened species in their state. … Read More
Newly adopted Business Roundtable tenets reflect forestry industry long-held values
The Business Roundtable made headlines recently when it announced a new set of operating principles that shift from focusing solely on shareholders to creating an economy that serves all Americans. The declaration listed the need for corporations to redefine their mission to support communities, cultivate a strong and sustainable economy, and promote stewardship and a healthy environment. News publications like … Read More
Environmentalists, loggers, policymakers say CLT a part of the response to climate change
Washington’s modern timber industry and early adoption of tall wood buildings have helped the state lead the nation in incorporating innovative wood products into the environmental stewardship movement. The recent opening of two mass timber factories in Colville and Spokane Valley underscores this. Working forests and all wood products continue to be a part of the carbon solution as trees … Read More