The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced in a news release on Tuesday that it launched the Landowner Assistance Portal, a web-based tool that aids landowners with forest habitats on their land in finding assistance for DNR’s forestry programs.
The portal was created to help assist landowners with getting both financial and technical assistance for fuel reduction efforts to prevent wildfires and wildlife stewardship and preparedness.
According to the news release, the number of landowners looking for DNR assistance has grown every year. Most landowners are aware of what they’re looking for in terms of assistance but struggle to find the information about the programs they need, so both the Forest Resilience and Forest Regulation divisions of the DNR partnered to produce the portal.
“This new tool is a one-stop shop for private-forest landowners in Washington,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz in the release.
“We are making transformational investments in our landowner assistance programs with the goal of keeping Washington the Evergreen State. Easier access to information on forest health, stewardship, and wildfire prevention will help landowners protect their homes and forests. Healthy forests, no matter what size, provide benefits to all who live in Washington.”
Anyone accessing the portal can find 34 common forestry subjects sorted into four categories to explore: resources for managing my forest, keeping my forest healthy, education and training, and permits and regulations.
The portal can be accessed at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/LandownerAssistancePortal.
A new find your forester tool has also been created by the DNR to help landowners locate nearby foresters and can be accessed online at https://foresthealthtracker.dnr.wa.gov/FindYourForester/Index.
