Foresters like me are passionate about our lands, waters and wildlife species. Every day, we are out on the landscape planning, planting and nurturing forests, many of which will mature generations from today.
Our goal is to be good stewards of our natural resources while providing economic opportunity, long-lived wood products and more wildfire-resistant and resilient forests today and for the future. But these efforts are undermined by campaigns to stop or delay Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) timber sales like Little Lilly, which also hurts schools, fire departments and other local services.
In fact, recent revenues from DNR timber trust land in Whatcom County have dropped from an eight-year average of $2.73 million to just $362,226, a difference of $2.36 million. It is unsustainable and, as a practical matter, leaves local residents to either do with less critical services or pay higher taxes at a time of inflation and economic uncertainty.
As a forester, it’s alarming to see new terms like “legacy forest,” not backed by science or fact, to cast doubt on and disrupt DNR timber sales. Some argue these forests should be preserved from timber harvests simply because they regenerate naturally after harvest, irrespective of their current ecological condition. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that naturally regenerated forests inherently provide more habitat benefits than those that are replanted.
Here are the facts about managed forestlands, including DNR timber trust lands.
DNR manages approximately 2.1 million acres of forestland, mostly in rural counties in Western Washington, to support the state trust beneficiaries in the counties in which the timber is located. Roughly 50% of that land is already off-limits to active management.
In addition, DNR lands are nestled among roughly 9.3 million acres of federally owned forestland in the state, which is almost exclusively off-limits to harvest. The harvests that do occur on DNR land are meticulously planned to protect habitats, sensitive slopes and water quality, while also creating jobs, building materials, and funding for rural schools and public services.
Active forest management, grounded in science, is crucial for maintaining the health and resilience of Washington’s forests. Research shows that unmanaged forests in Washington have lower rates of carbon sequestration and three times the rate of tree mortality due to disease and die-off compared to managed forests.
As we have all seen and felt across our state, unmanaged forests are more susceptible to severe wildfires, which can release millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and degrade air quality. Locally harvested trees, on the other hand, contribute to the state’s climate mitigation and forest resilience goals. We also provide locally sourced materials to build housing the region needs.
Today’s forestry is informed by top natural resources and environmental best practices. Let’s trust the science. Washington has some of the most stringent environmental regulations, to create and sustain healthy forests and communities.
As the DNR considers timber sales like Little Lilly, I hope our community stands strong to support healthy forests through sustainable management. It’s the legacy all of us want and that we’ve achieved in our state over generations of forest stewardship.
Susan David is a forester for Hampton Lumber and a resident of Bellingham.
Managed forestlands are an environmental, economic imperative
Roughly 50% of DNR's 2.1M acres of managed forestland are already off limits
Foresters like me are passionate about our lands, waters and wildlife species. Every day, we are out on the landscape planning, planting and nurturing forests, many of which will mature generations from today.
Our goal is to be good stewards of our natural resources while providing economic opportunity, long-lived wood products and more wildfire-resistant and resilient forests today and for the future. But these efforts are undermined by campaigns to stop or delay Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) timber sales like Little Lilly, which also hurts schools, fire departments and other local services.
In fact, recent revenues from DNR timber trust land in Whatcom County have dropped from an eight-year average of $2.73 million to just $362,226, a difference of $2.36 million. It is unsustainable and, as a practical matter, leaves local residents to either do with less critical services or pay higher taxes at a time of inflation and economic uncertainty.
As a forester, it’s alarming to see new terms like “legacy forest,” not backed by science or fact, to cast doubt on and disrupt DNR timber sales. Some argue these forests should be preserved from timber harvests simply because they regenerate naturally after harvest, irrespective of their current ecological condition. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that naturally regenerated forests inherently provide more habitat benefits than those that are replanted.
Here are the facts about managed forestlands, including DNR timber trust lands.
DNR manages approximately 2.1 million acres of forestland, mostly in rural counties in Western Washington, to support the state trust beneficiaries in the counties in which the timber is located. Roughly 50% of that land is already off-limits to active management.
In addition, DNR lands are nestled among roughly 9.3 million acres of federally owned forestland in the state, which is almost exclusively off-limits to harvest. The harvests that do occur on DNR land are meticulously planned to protect habitats, sensitive slopes and water quality, while also creating jobs, building materials, and funding for rural schools and public services.
Active forest management, grounded in science, is crucial for maintaining the health and resilience of Washington’s forests. Research shows that unmanaged forests in Washington have lower rates of carbon sequestration and three times the rate of tree mortality due to disease and die-off compared to managed forests.
As we have all seen and felt across our state, unmanaged forests are more susceptible to severe wildfires, which can release millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and degrade air quality. Locally harvested trees, on the other hand, contribute to the state’s climate mitigation and forest resilience goals. We also provide locally sourced materials to build housing the region needs.
Today’s forestry is informed by top natural resources and environmental best practices. Let’s trust the science. Washington has some of the most stringent environmental regulations, to create and sustain healthy forests and communities.
As the DNR considers timber sales like Little Lilly, I hope our community stands strong to support healthy forests through sustainable management. It’s the legacy all of us want and that we’ve achieved in our state over generations of forest stewardship.
Susan David is a forester for Hampton Lumber and a resident of Bellingham.
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