The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is soliciting public input regarding a project setting aside 10,000 acres of high ecological value state lands set aside for conservation and carbon sequestration, according to a news release.
Candidate parcels have been selected across 11 counties, including Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Snohomish, Lewis, Mason, Whatcom, King, Grays Harbor, Skamania and Thurston.
A public webinar will be held on Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. and in-person open house on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. The survey will close on Nov. 18.
To learn more about submitting feedback, visit www.dnr.wa.gov/carbonoutreach.
At the time the project was announced, the agency had identified the first 2,500 acres of forests to be set aside, the release stated. For Phase 2 of the project, DNR has identified 50 parcels totaling 11,726 acres as candidates for the remaining 7,500 acres to be included in the project. Input and feedback from the process will be used to narrow down the final selection, according to the agency.
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz called the project: “A truly transformative approach to preserving our most ecologically valuable forests.”
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners has said the project would negatively affect the local timber industry by cutting out potential logging sites and that when those sites are eventually logged, trees will be too large for mills in the county. The commissioners have been encouraging citizens to get involved by submitting feedback in opposition.
