Polly Dyer – Seattle • Entered by Penelope Peterson on September 29, 2024
Advocacy to Protect Washington’s Legacy Forests–Protesting the Stilly Revisited Timber Sale
June 1, 2024 – June 1, 2024
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 0.25 |
| Post Admin hours | 0.25 |
| Activity Hours | 2 |
| Participants | 1 |
| Total Hours | 2.5 |
Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Center for Responsible Forestry (CRF)
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (6 letters/postcards)
Short Description of Activity
Currently 77,000 acres of unprotected Legacy Forests exist in Washington, constituting only 3% of state managed land. According to the Center for Responsible Forestry, the state manages 1.7 million acres of forest land in Western Washington. 2,000 acres are being permanently conserved. Through the Natural Climate Commitment Act the Legislature affirms the carbon storage benefits of these lowland forests (per Center for Responsible Forestry).
The state (DNR) manages three types of forest lands described on the DNR website. These are State Trust Lands, State Forest Lands, and Community Forests. We strongly support the preservation of forest stands with “old growth” and “legacy forest” characteristics. These are forest stands that retain the character of mature native forests. For those forests that have been logged, the tree cutting mostly occurred before the advent of modern power equipment–generally around 1945.
Legacy Forests are structurally complex, naturally regenerated, and exhibit genetic and biological diversity. These forest stands are not only refuge for bio-diverse organisms, but also are exceptionally effective carbon sinks. They also promote groundwater recharge and regulation, are fire resistant, and help to moderate the climate.
Washington State manages 1.7 million acres of forest lands in Western Washington. Only about 77,000 acres of these are unprotected legacy stands. These forest stands are significantly more valuable standing than turned into board feet. We are not trying to stop logging in Washington State, but now is the time for us to preserve these 77,000 acres of remaining legacy forests.
Accordingly, our Broadband has been responding to the “Action Alerts” by the Center for Responsible Forestry (CRF) whenever a timber auction is scheduled for clear-cutting trees in one of Washington’s Legacy Forests. These “Action Alerts” involve going to the CRF website and clicking to submit a pre-written letter plus one’s personal comments. CRF then sends these letters to the Board of the Washington Department of Natural Resources plus others.
Reflection/Evaluation
The Action Alert on June 1st was for the Stilly Revisited Timber Sale. Six Polly Dyer Seattle Broads submitted letters.