Making a difference

Today, state trust lands are managed today much as they have been for decades, with timber and grazing revenues as chief concerns. Conservation Northwest is working to change this basic management tenet to make sure that forest lands held in trust by Washington State are managed to protect other critical public benefits—streams for spawning salmon, drinking water reservoirs, and places to recreate.

We believe that the Department of Natural Resources should manage these lands for all the people, and for values such as clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities. The Loomis Forest, where we protected forests in northeast Washington for lynx and other wildlife, is one example of a major success Conservation Northwest has had on protecting state lands forests.

We work to conserve mature and old-growth forests and protect watersheds on state lands. We also track forest conservation issues in the Washington State legislature. Some of our top concerns are:

• The Lake Whatcom watershed, drinking water for more than 90,000 people in Whatcom County.
• Blanchard Mountain, the only place where the Cascades, through the small arm of the Chuckanut Mountains, meet salt water, and  important for wildlife connectivity.
• Protecting old growth and legacy trees on state public lands, home to wildlife diversity, including northern spotted owl.
• Considering working forests to help stem the rising tide of sprawl and development on private lands.