Washington Includes Forests in Carbon Plans

Great ideas are contagious. The 2016 Paris Climate Accord elevated the role of forests as a key climate change solution. Now, as California looks to forest and other lands as climate tools, climate discussions in Washington state are also elevating the role of forests in sequestering dangerous carbon dioxide emissions.

This spring, the state legislature considered four carbon tax bills, three of which dedicated some portion of the resulting funding toward forests. While none of the bills are expected to pass this session, some of the language from one of the most promising bills, House Bill 1646, has recently been submitted as a 2018 ballot initiative—and its prospects for success are good, given state voter enthusiasm for climate change measures. Forest loss and depletion is the second largest source of the state’s CO₂ emissions.

This September, the Washington Environmental Council is hosting an all day seminar, co-sponsored by Pacific Forest Trust and others, on how forests can most resiliently, effectively, and durably store more carbon to reduce greenhouse gases and promote adaptation.

More than 60% of Washington voters support an initiative that places a price on carbon.

And that support rises to 67% if proceeds are directed to forest health and water projects.

— 2015 voter survey commissioned by The Nature Conservancy

More in this Issue of ForestLife

• President’s Letter: Healthy Forests, Healthy People
• Conserving a Working Forest on Black Butte’s Iconic Landscape
• CA Assembly Passes the CARBON Act
• Restoring Watersheds Key to California’s Future Water Supply 
• Working with Fire
• Walter and Jeanne Sedgwick
• More Pacific Crest Trail Conserved
• Three Million Trees Planted at Goose Lake Working Forest