Regional Foresters Surpass Goals of Pilot Program
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We’re called the Evergreen State for a reason— more than half of Washington is forested. Small forest landowners can play a vital role as stewards of this critical resource and they now have access to education and technical assistance from professional foresters, thanks to the Regional Forestry Pilot Program.
Developed by Puget Sound Conservation Districts (PSCD) and the Puget Sound National Estuary Program, the pilot program uses a cluster model that allows nine conservation districts to share foresters that they may have otherwise been unable to afford to hire themselves. Stacey Dixon provides technical assistance to landowners in Snohomish County and on Camano Island, and also supports Whidbey Island.
“I help people access educational opportunities and stewardship services so that they feel more confident managing their lands,” Stacey said.
One of the biggest threats to forest land is conversion to non-forest uses, resulting in habitat loss and a reduction in critical environmental functions, such as stormwater capture and filtration. While there are programs that provide landowners with incentives to preserve forests, they can be difficult to navigate.
“Creating healthy forests takes management and action,” Stacey said. “[The regional forestry program] helps direct people through the process."
While developing the program, the regional foresters completed a prioritization process to identify at-risk forest land and target outreach in these areas to raise awareness of the services available to forest landowners. We participated in developing the engagement strategy and Emma Kilgore, our Regional Graphic Designer and Media Specialist, led the content creation. The content was also added to the Washington State Conservation Commission’s marketing toolkit so that districts across the state could incorporate it into their programs and services.
The program had three milestones to reach by November 2022, but those were already surpassed by the end of 2021. Nearly 200 landowners owning a total of over 2,900 acres of forest land have received technical assistance and education. The regional foresters are creating a forestry forum for other conservation districts within the Center of Technical Development to further expand the program. Stacey is also collaborating with our agroforester, Carrie Brausieck, and foresters from across the Puget Sound region to create a joint forestry and agroforestry track at the Washington Association of District Employees Conference.
Though funding for the Regional Forestry Pilot Program currently ends in December 2022, “It feels like it’s solidifying into something more permanent,” Stacey said. “We’re working on building out this network to expand to other conservation districts in the region, and hopefully establish a permanent regional program.”
Until then, the regional foresters will continue to connect with landowners to encourage long-term management decisions that improve forest land retention, health, and vitality in the Puget Sound region.
Thanks to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for making the regional forester program possible.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J22301 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
