Save a legacy forest
Let’s stop the Washington state Department of Natural Resources from logging one of the last remaining legacy forests near Port Angeles, not far from Olympic National Park. Video: Center for Responsible Forestry.
Action alert: Save Elwha River legacy forests!
Logging the legacy forest known as the “Aldwell timber sale” (166 acres), will be lost forever unless the community takes steps to protect it. “Aldwell” is one of many legacy forests at risk on the Olympic Peninsula and in Western Washington. Super yikes!
The Port Angeles City Council unanimously voted to ask the state to halt the timber sale and protect this bit of forest through the state’s own carbon offset program. Yet, the state has ignored the will of the city.
Take action
On Sept. 29, the City of Port Angeles (following a unanimous vote) sent a letter to BNR requesting that it delay the Aldwell timber harvest auction, citing the need to protect our local water supply, and the value of the forest for biodiversity preservation and carbon sequestration. The City further requested that this important legacy forest be protected from logging under the carbon offset program. Send a short email to council@cityofpa.us thanking the Port Angeles City Council for their leadership on this issue.
The State has indicated that it will not be honoring the City’s request.
Send an email to BNR (bnr@dnr.wa.gov) and Commission of Public Lands, Hilary Franz (cpl@dnr.wa.gov), with copy to state and federal legislative representatives (Senator Kevin Van De Wege (kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov), Representative Steve Tharinger (steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov), and Representative Mike Chapman (mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov) letting them know that you oppose the State logging in the Elwha Watershed, in particular, the Aldwell timber sale.
Join in
Says the Center for Responsible Forestry: “The logging of mature legacy forests on DNR managed lands also violates Board of Natural Resources policies intended to preserve older forests. These forests play a critical role in preserving genetic diversity and biological legacies of the old growth forests that once dominated the Pacific Northwest. Only a tiny fraction of older forests remain in the Puget Sound lowlands, and their time is running out. Over the next five years, the DNR plans to sell off thousands more acres of our natural heritage.
“However, a movement to save "legacy forests" is forming rapidly! Concerned citizens and environmental organizations demand that the Board of Natural Resources change forest management policy and practice in ways that protect legacy forests on our public land. Visit https://www.c4rf.org/ and join the Center for Responsible Forestry's volunteer mailing list to learn more about how you can protect legacy forests.”