Forestry Programs & Resources
/
There are many programs, resources, and forestry professionals who can help you achieve your stewardship goals and objectives. Gain awareness and start strengthening your network by checking out the resources and organizations below.
Forest Planning Assistance
Don’t overlook your local forester! Snohomish Conservation District has a forester who can visit your property for free and offer ideas and resources. Contact Stacey Dixon for information on managing your forest for long-term health, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and timber at sdixon@snohomishcd.org or call 360-453-7163. If you do not live in Snohomish County, visit betterground.org to find your local conservation district.
Education, Classes & Consultant Directories
The faculty and staff of the Washington State University Extension Forestry program offer a wide variety of objective, research-based forest stewardship classes, publications, and online resources. Additionally, the Washington State Consulting Forester and Silvicultural Contractor Directory can help you locate private sector forestry professionals who provide services to landowners.
Beneficial Tax Programs for Forested Land
There are several current use taxation programs that offer a property tax reduction to landowners to voluntarily conserve forestland on their property. On Camano Island, the Public Benefit Rating System is available for landowners who want to protect or restore open space resources on their property. For more information, visit Island County’s Assessor-tax relief website.
Open Space Programs
In Snohomish County, the Open Space Taxation Act, also known as “Current Use,” allows landowners to have their property taxed at its current use rather than its "highest and best use," as required by state law. The types of property covered underneath this act are open space, farm and agricultural, and timber land. Learn more about the Open Space Taxation Act .
Designated Forest Land Program
The Designated Forest Land Program is available for both Snohomish County and Camano Island and focuses on the sustainable management of commercial timber stands. In order to qualify for Designated Forest Land or the Open Space Timber Land program, landowners must have at least five acres dedicated to the growth and harvest of timber products and present a timber management plan, which your local conservation district’s forester can help you develop. Learn about Designated Forest Land here. . To find out more, visit Snohomish County’s Open Space and Designated Forest Land Programs page.
Financial Assistance for Forest Practices
Managing your forest can sometimes take more time, energy, and money than one has available. That's where the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service "EQIP" Program might help. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides eligible landowners with financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits to their forest land. Visit the Environmental Quality Incentives Program page for more information.
Conservation Easement Opportunities
Interested in preserving your forest so that future generations will be able to enjoy it as you have? Conservation easements are voluntary agreements that permanently limit the uses of land in order to protect certain conservation values. Whether a landowner sells or donates the development rights on their property, conservation easements enable them to be fairly compensated for their land’s development potential. Learn more about conservation easements at Washington Association of Land Trust's website.
Photos by Kelsi Mottet from Whidbey Island Conservation District.
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.
