READ AND DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE

In 2027, Washington lawmakers have the opportunity to help reduce deforestation and forest degradation by passing new legislation protecting primary forests, slowing forestland conversion and repealing archaic provisions of law that work to prioritize timber above all other uses and drive unsustainable levels of logging. In a new report, CSE and our partner This Land have outlined five legislative initiatives that are based on principles of ecological forestry, sustainable economics and responsible governance. 

In addition to the report, we have prepared resolutions that will be forwarded to key legislators after organizational endorsements are compiled. To endorse one or more of these, just click on the link at the end of the bulleted paragraphs to review the text and see instructions for forwarding your organization’s endorsement. 

Each of the measures proposed has the potential to enhance our quality of life, reduce budget deficits, stimulate economic diversification and promote natural solutions to climate change. In particular:

• A primary forest protection act is a long overdue measure that will keep carbon rich stands and unique assemblages of plants, fish and wildlife intact while eliminating Department of Natural Resources (DNR) logging activities that cause more economic harm than good. REVIEW AND ENDORSE RESOLUTION HERE.

• A no-net-loss of carbon sequestration program is essential for halting deforestation from urban sprawl and generating revenues to protect and restore one of the world’s most productive carbon sinks. REVIEW AND ENDORSE RESOLUTION HERE.

• A forest carbon tax and reward program will catalyze a more rapid transition to climate smart forestry while potentially raising hundreds of millions of dollars each year to help the state finance climate adaptation. REVIEW AND ENDORSE RESOLUTION HERE.

• Repealing statutory drivers of deforestation will remove market distortions that sustain economically inefficient and environmentally harmful levels of logging, perpetuate environmental injustices, and facilitate DNR’s abuse of discretion. REVIEW AND ENDORSE RESOLUTION HERE.

• Rescinding logging subsidies will help replenish public coffers and incentivize more sustainable forest practices. 

The measures proposed here can be implemented with several distinct pieces of legislation that range from simple strikeouts of outdated language to more sophisticated legislation based on model initiatives drafted or passed in other states. To help address Washington’s forest crisis head on, CSE and This Land encourage legislators from both major parties and from both rural and urbanized districts to consider one or more of these options during the long legislative session in 2027.