Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced on Monday, December 18, that the Department of Natural Resources has designated the 2,000 acres of forestland that were funded by the legislature's 2021 Climate Commitment Act.
None of the sites are found in Thurston County.
Parcels that have been selected for conservation are located in the counties of Clallam, Jefferson, King, Snohomish, and Whatcom. The following sites were designated for conservation:
The JOLT reached out to Thurston County commissioners for comment today about the proposed designations and Commissioner Tye Menser was the only one to make a statement as of press time.
“I am happy that 2,000 acres in other counties are being protected, but disappointed that none of our mature forestland was selected,” Menser stated, adding, “I am actively looking into what options might be available at this point to accomplish Thurston County’s goal of protecting its oldest pieces of state forestland.”
Leadership in the five countries must accept the proposed designations from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before the State Board of Natural Resources authorizes the designations.
DNR manages around 900,000 acres of forestland for conservation.
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Tractor1
I*t is a worthy program but are these lands now going to be tax free? If so, who is picking up the amount deducted from the tax base? And, are any landowners enjoying the tax break?
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
bobkat
Because of Thurston County's the central location (i.e.: sits astride I-5 / sits astride US 101 / sits astride BNSF & Union Pacific north-south main line / proximity to JBLM / abundant developable acreage / etc / etc) the State will NEVER allow its hands to be tied against future development by designating ANY of Thurston's land as conservable and, thus, off limits to development!
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
johngreen
This is very disturbing news. Our governor needs to step in and change the mindset at the DNR. He professes to be worried about climate change but allows clearcutting of legacy forests which sequester carbon to help with climate change. Outlawing gas powered cars will not offset the clearcutting of our forests. Timber companies are making record profits and need to pay more for shipping our timber to Asia. Forests cool the earth and promote rainfall to offset the affects of climate change. And Franz is running for office, who in their right mind could vote for her?
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
Southsoundguy
Get land out from under the control of democratic government organisms. Private owners can conserve as much land as they want through conservation easements and land trusts, ensuring land will be used appropriately going forward. The government will only abuse it in the long run.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
Orion0462
Sadly, some of the comments are made from a place of ignorance. Most of the lands DNR manages in Thurston County ARE trust lands set aside upon statehood to support construction of "common schools" (K - 12). DNR manages these lands in perpetuity to the benefit of not only its trust constituents but also the benefit of wildlife habitat, clean water and to the extent possible, recreational opportunities. These lands are managed to federally recognized certifications such as the "Sustainable Forestry Initiative®" These trust lands help save DNR's healthy forest land base from conversion to private development. The discussion about harvesting individual trees (in the snapshot of a short human life) is short-sighted and does not include consideration of a complex holistic environmental approach that includes the protection of wildlife habitats, clean water, wildfire and the beauty of a healthy forest environment for ourselves and our posterity.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
pbaron1902
After reading Orion's comment, I would think it would behoove DNR officials to publish that information for public consumption. Perhaps there would be less ignorance, if they did that...?
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
Southsoundguy
The problem is DNR management, period.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
bobkat
@ ORION 0642 - - Perhaps, instead of a paragraph of bureaucratically phrased obfuscation, you might care to cite the origin and authority of these "protections last into perpetuity " of which you speak?
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Report this
tiredtodeath
While it is wonderful to put these tracts aside for future generations, I can't help but make the connection to how that land was decided upon in correlation to the fact that Hilary Franz is running for congress in the area that received the lion's share of that. She is clearly playing up to the base that she wants to represent. Again, happy about the conservation. Just dissapointed at how that clear abuse of power will effect us here in Thurston county.
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 Report this