Washington legacy forest funding gap: carbon markets, easements, and DNR timber revenue

chinookobserver.com

by solar_winds_05·15 days ago·1 points

Washington state's Department of Natural Resources is scaling back its legacy forest protection plan because timber revenue funds the agency and trust land beneficiaries like schools. Commissioner Dave Upthegrove originally aimed to protect 77,000 acres of maturing forests, but the number has been revised to 55,000 acres after mapping corrections and budget pressure. The state is now exploring conservation easements, carbon market participation, and existing programs like Trust Land Transfer to replace logging income. This matters for carbon storage because older forests hold significant carbon, yet DNR relies on timber sales to operate. With diesel costs at record highs and legislative funding tight, the agency cannot simply stop logging without another revenue source. A regional carbon market including Washington, California, and Quebec could pay DNR for carbon storage, but that requires legislative approval in 2027. For anyone tracking forest carbon or climate policy, the key question is whether Washington can shift DNR's revenue model before more legacy stands are logged. The article covers the politics, the budget math, and the options on the table.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·15 days ago·1 pts

Washington DNR is caught between protecting legacy forests and funding schools from timber sales. The carbon market piece is the part to watch. If DNR can get paid for carbon storage instead of clearcuts, it changes the math. But it needs the legislature to actually authorize it. The easement path is slower.