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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 1,300 independent small woodland owners, say the annual meeting offers WFFA members an opportunity to come together and discuss issues affecting small forestland owners.

This year’s WFFA meeting will focus on the two decades of the Forests & Fish Law and its impact on small forestland owners. The conference coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the Forests & Fish Law – a landmark environmental legislation that included landowners, tribes, federal agencies and state government working together to protect Washington’s native fish and aquatic species.

“We need to look forward to see how family forest owners fit into the future of forestry and efforts to restore salmon populations,” WFFA Executive Director Elaine Oneil said. “WFFA supported Forests & Fish from the beginning and we are proud of the role small forestland owners and tree farmers have played as stewards of the land.”

Washington Forest Protection Association Executive Director Mark Doumit will participate in a panel discussion on the history of the Forests & Fish Law. Department of Ecology Director Maia Bellon, Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind and Department of Natural Resources senior strategic advisor Tom Bugert are scheduled to participate in a panel discussion on the Forests & Law’s impact on efforts to protect resources. US Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen will provide the keynote address the first day of the conference.

In addition to timely discussions, Washington Tree Farm Program (WTFP) will present the 2019 Washington State Tree Farmer of the Year honor to a member that has shown great leadership through good forest management and responsible land stewardship. To learn more about the 2019 WFFA Annual meeting, go to: https://www.wafarmforestry.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/Annual%20Meeting/2019%20Brochure-New.pdf.

About the Washington Forest Protection Association

The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) represents private forest landowners growing and harvesting trees on about 4 million acres in Washington State. Members of the 110-year-old association include large and small companies, individuals and families who practice sustainable forestry in Washington’s private forests. For more information, go to www.wfpa.org.

About the Washington Farm Forestry Association

The Washington Farm Forestry Association is an organization of and for forest landowners in Washington state. From a few acres to a few thousand acres, members manage their lands for timber, other forest products, wildlife, fish, recreation and aesthetics. WFFA’s 1,300 family members manage more than 150,000 acres for forest land.