Post by cdaxena on Mar 18, 2004 18:03:06 GMT -5
DNR Forest Resource Plan Revision Workshops
No. 04-019
Thursday, April 1 – Spokane: Hilton Garden Inn, Granite Room, 9015 West Highway 2, Spokane, WA 99224
State DNR to hold public workshops on revision of Forest Resource Plan and scope of environmental review. Seven meetings statewide set for late March and early April.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled seven public workshops statewide to receive input to assist revision of the Forest Resources Plan for the 2.1 million acres of state trust forests.
At the meetings, DNR will invite input on the need and purpose for revising the plan, the management objectives, potential impacts, reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures, as well as any other ideas or concerns the public might have.
DNR is beginning the revision of the Forest Resources Plan, which sets the policy direction for management of the trust land forests statewide. The plan does not identify management activities on specific tracts of land (for example, individual timber sales). Rather, it describes the department’s general policies and priorities. The Forest Resources Plan last was approved by the Board of Natural Resources (Board) in 1992. The Board of Natural Resources voted in 2002 to extend the plan through 2005.
The public workshops are the first step in the environmental review process for the revised plan. DNR will be developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will address potential negative impacts of policies in the revised plan.
Sustainable harvest calculation first step in revision of plan
Some policies in the Forest Resource Plan are being amended as the Board of Natural Resources finalizes decisions regarding sustainable forestry and the harvest calculation for Westside trust forests. Work over the past two years on the sustainable harvest calculation will provide some of the foundation for developing policies for the plan. The remaining policies of the Forest Resource Plan also will be reviewed and updated.
Workshop schedule
The public workshops are scheduled from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.
Thursday, April 1 – Spokane: Hilton Garden Inn, Granite Room, 9015 West Highway 2, Spokane, WA 99224
State trust forests – revenue for schools, counties and more.
DNR, led by Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland, manages more than 3 million acres of state-owned trust forest, agricultural, range lands and commercial properties that earn income to build schools, universities and other state institutions, and help fund local services in many counties. In addition to earning income, trust lands help protect habitat for native plant and animal species, clean and abundant water, and offer public recreation and education opportunities statewide.
Since 1989, DNR-managed forested trust lands have produced nearly $3 billion in revenue, reducing the need for taxes to pay for public projects and services. By law, state-owned trust lands are to be managed to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state general fund. They also are to be managed to offer fish and wildlife habitat, and provide educational and recreational opportunities to more than 11 million people each year.
Contact: Todd Myers, 360-902-1023, or cell, 360-870-3853
Jane Chavey, 360-902-1721
Additional information can be found on DNR’s website at: www.dnr.wa.gov
No. 04-019
Thursday, April 1 – Spokane: Hilton Garden Inn, Granite Room, 9015 West Highway 2, Spokane, WA 99224
State DNR to hold public workshops on revision of Forest Resource Plan and scope of environmental review. Seven meetings statewide set for late March and early April.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled seven public workshops statewide to receive input to assist revision of the Forest Resources Plan for the 2.1 million acres of state trust forests.
At the meetings, DNR will invite input on the need and purpose for revising the plan, the management objectives, potential impacts, reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures, as well as any other ideas or concerns the public might have.
DNR is beginning the revision of the Forest Resources Plan, which sets the policy direction for management of the trust land forests statewide. The plan does not identify management activities on specific tracts of land (for example, individual timber sales). Rather, it describes the department’s general policies and priorities. The Forest Resources Plan last was approved by the Board of Natural Resources (Board) in 1992. The Board of Natural Resources voted in 2002 to extend the plan through 2005.
The public workshops are the first step in the environmental review process for the revised plan. DNR will be developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will address potential negative impacts of policies in the revised plan.
Sustainable harvest calculation first step in revision of plan
Some policies in the Forest Resource Plan are being amended as the Board of Natural Resources finalizes decisions regarding sustainable forestry and the harvest calculation for Westside trust forests. Work over the past two years on the sustainable harvest calculation will provide some of the foundation for developing policies for the plan. The remaining policies of the Forest Resource Plan also will be reviewed and updated.
Workshop schedule
The public workshops are scheduled from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.
Thursday, April 1 – Spokane: Hilton Garden Inn, Granite Room, 9015 West Highway 2, Spokane, WA 99224
State trust forests – revenue for schools, counties and more.
DNR, led by Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland, manages more than 3 million acres of state-owned trust forest, agricultural, range lands and commercial properties that earn income to build schools, universities and other state institutions, and help fund local services in many counties. In addition to earning income, trust lands help protect habitat for native plant and animal species, clean and abundant water, and offer public recreation and education opportunities statewide.
Since 1989, DNR-managed forested trust lands have produced nearly $3 billion in revenue, reducing the need for taxes to pay for public projects and services. By law, state-owned trust lands are to be managed to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state general fund. They also are to be managed to offer fish and wildlife habitat, and provide educational and recreational opportunities to more than 11 million people each year.
Contact: Todd Myers, 360-902-1023, or cell, 360-870-3853
Jane Chavey, 360-902-1721
Additional information can be found on DNR’s website at: www.dnr.wa.gov