DNR accepting Community Forest Trust nominations until June 17

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking nominations for working forest lands at risk of conversion to protect as part of the state Community Forest Trust. Community members who are interested in nominating lands must submit a proposal to DNR by June 17, 2016.

Since the 1980s, more than 17 percent of the working forests in Washington State have been converted to other land uses. As these forests vanish, so do the many benefits they provide, including local timber, natural resources jobs, clean air and water, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities.

The Community Forest Trust program provides DNR the tools to work with local communities to retain and manage these working forest lands that have significant value to local residents but are at high risk of being converted to other, non-forest uses, such as being developed for residential, commercial or other uses.

As specified in the legislation, priority consideration is given to parcels that are at the highest risk of conversion, help buffer commercial public or private forest lands from development, can be managed as economically sustainable working forest land in line with community objectives, and are available for acquisition.

More information and the nomination form – including a checklist of required materials - can be found on DNR’s website: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/managed-lands/washington-community-forest-trust-program.