One of the significant new tax policies coming out of this recent legislative session involves the real estate excise tax or REET. This is a tax paid by the seller of all real property. The rate has historically been flat. Which is to say, one rate applied to all sales regardless… Read more
New Forest Health Policies Directly Support Wildfire Response
The smoke that drifted into Western Washington last summer and obscured the Space Needle behind its cloak grabbed the attention of the metropolitan Puget Sound area. However, wildfires and forest health have been a high-profile legislative issue since the historic fire years in 2014 and 2015. This past session was… Read more
Legislature Connects Dots Between Rural Economic Development, Environmental Outcomes
The environmental headlines of this past legislative session have focused on two big topics: orca whales and carbon emissions. The 2019 Legislature passed numerous high-profile bills to address these two seemingly disparate issues. E3SHB 1324 progressed well below the radar yet manages to marry both issues in a package that… Read more
Stewardship, love of trees motivates Lewis County Tree Farm
A family-run tree farm in Lewis County recently received high honors for its commitment to sustainable forest practices. The Washington Tree Farm Program named O’Neill Pine Company owners Debra and Richard Pine 2019 Tree Farmers of the Year at the annual Washington Farm and Forestry Association in May. O’Neill Pine Company’s overstory… Read more
State and federal agencies promise greater collaboration ahead of wildfire season
Washington residents and forestland owners can anticipate greater collaboration between state and federal agencies on forest health-related issues. USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind and Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa signed a “Shared Stewardship” Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week that… Read more
2019 legislative session results overall good for forestland owners
The 2019 legislative session wrapped up with a flurry of activity during the final days of the session. Around-the-clock legislating happened as lawmakers worked to conclude on time. A whopping 2,208 bills were introduced over the course of the 105-day session. Things moved fast; capacity was stretched thin. But from… Read more
Washington Farm Forestry annual meeting celebrates 20th anniversary of Forests & Fish Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 29, 2019 Contact: Cindy Mitchell, 360-791-9372 or Elaine Oneil, 360-388-8033 US Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and other leaders in natural resources and forestry will speak at the annual Washington Farm Forestry Association meeting May 3-4 in Silverdale. Organizers of the yearly event, which represents… Read more
Stressed trees underscore need for greater land management
Drought, hotter summers, disease and pests are stressing native tree species in Western Washington, according to scientists, King County agencies and conservationists. The Courier-Herald and other Sound Publishing newspapers reported that indigenous trees like Western hemlock and Douglas fir are struggling to thrive in Western Washington, increasing wildfire risks and impacting… Read more
Wildfires impact air quality greater than prescribed burns
An analysis provided by the US Forest Service has concluded what many forestland owners and woodland managers already know: Prescribed burns have a lower impact on air quality while helping to prevent forest fires than catastrophic wildfires. The study, which measured particulate matter within communities near the fires and urban centers far… Read more
Landowners, agencies and tribes united in saving salmon
Recognizing the power of collaboration with an eye toward a future where salmon recovery efforts throughout Washington state are successful, representatives from state and local governments, privately-owned forestlands, federal agencies and tribal communities convened in Tacoma this week to discuss the important work of restoring salmon populations. The 7th biennial Salmon… Read more
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