2007 Annual Report

21st Century Vision for Sustainable Forestry

A Year-in-Review

A rundown of the successes and issues that WFPA and its members have helped shape within the forestry industry during 2006-07

Federal Recognition of Washington State Forest Practices

Washington is the only state to have achieved national recognition from the federal government that its state forest practices system meets the Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts. On June 6, 2006 the state received endorsement of its Forests & Fish Law through a 50-year Habitat Conservation Plan, the largest multi-species plan in the nation. More

Fish and Wildlife Habitat Is Protected By Forests & Fish Law

The Forests & Fish Law covers 60,000 miles of streams and 9.3 million acres of forestland in Washington State. The Law set in motion a Roads Maintenance and Abandonment Plan (RMAP) effort to improve forested roads where needed. More

Forest Road Systems are Inventoried and Repaired

Private forest landowners have inventoried 59,220 miles of roads and developed a plan to upgrade and repair their road systems where needed. The goal is to improve fish passage and stabilize their road systems so they can better withstand heavy rain and weather events. So far: 9,950 road maintenance plans have been approved covering opening up nearly 1,000 miles of fish habitat by removing more than 1,800 barriers to fish passage. More

Voters have Confidence in Private Forest Landowners

Since the Forests & Fish Law passed, there has been a marked increase in public acceptance of forestry:

  • Net voter approval of forest products companies actions remains high and the average has more than doubled since the Forests & Fish Law was adopted.
  • Voter disapproval of forest products companies actions is among its lowest level.
  • Voter’s demand for less regulation of privately owned forests is at its highest level.
  • There is wide approval of the Forests & Fish Law.

Reduction in B&O tax for the Forest Products Industry

The Legislature unanimously approved a tax credit (House Bill 1513) that clarified how the Real Estate Excise Tax applies to sales of standing timber. This is the second year in a row that the Legislature passed a tax reduction measure for the timber industry. More

Voluntary Protection of the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat

The state Forest Practices Board endorsed voluntary measures by private forest landowners to protect the habitat for the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly, a cooperative approach that will yield more results instead of more restrictive regulations. More

Long-term Forest Practices Permit for Small Forest Landowners

The state Forest Practices Board approves a long-term, 15-year forest practices permit for small forest landowners as an approach to reducing paperwork and increasing management flexibility for this segment of landowners.

Federal Ruling on Northern Spotted Owl Protection Measures

A federal judge ruled that the state forest practices system properly implements owl protection measures. Upon legal challenge by environmental groups to the state forest practices rules for spotted owls, the judge refused to enjoin harvest permitted through the state forest practices system. More

Washington State Project Learning Tree Sponsored by WFPA

Project Learning Tree (PLT) in Washington State has been sponsored by WFPA for over 25 years. More than 500 teachers, college students who were learning to become teachers, and their professors around the state were involved in the PLT programs this year. Using the “forest as a window” PLT inspires and empowers students to tackle complex forest issues and develops informed decision making.

Forest Health Bill Passes Unanimously in State Legislature

The Legislature unanimously passed the Forest Health bill (Senate Bill 6141) which will develop a comprehensive forest health program for the state, giving the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the lead role in developing a comprehensive forest health program for the state. More

Teacher on Summer Assignment Program Enters 8th Year

The Teacher on Summer Assignment (TOSA) program entered its eighth year with nine new teacher participants. The program gives teachers hands-on field study experience with forest products companies. More

Rule Making on Historic Sites Initiated by Forest Practices Board

The Forest Practices Board initiated rule making on historic sites removing the uncertainty and providing clarity on which sites have historic value. More

New Employees Join WFPA

Five new employees joined WFPA in 2007, including the new Executive Director, Mark Doumit. Mark is the sixth executive director of the Association. More

Desired Future Conditions Proposed Rules Move Forward

The Forest Practices Board began formal rule making with the westside riparian Desired Future Conditions (DFC) rules. The Board put forward an alternative proposal initiated by WFPA that incorporated a broad level of comments from diverse groups of stakeholders. This version includes two approaches for protecting fish and wildlife habitat. More

WFPA and WFFA Co-Sponsor Tree Farm Program

Washington Farm Forestry Association became co-sponsors of the Tree Farm Program with WFPA. The program started in 1941 and is the oldest voluntary third party certification system in the country. More

Favorable Decision by Court of Appeals in SEPA Cases

In two challenges relating to the way cumulative effects are addressed by the state forest practices system, the Court of Appeals affirmed the Thurston County Superior Court’s favorable ruling. More

WFPA Receives Legislative Leadership Award

WFPA received one of the Cascade Agenda’s Legislative Leadership Awards at the Cascade Land Conservancy’s annual breakfast in May.

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