A recent article suggested that the recent decision of the Washington Forest Management Board would “remove roughly 200,000 acres of Western Washington timber from production.”
That is incorrect.
All of these acres will remain in timber production. But the decision of the board will remove trees grown in these essential streamside buffer areas from consumption. The trees will still grow. They will consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They will stabilize streams. They will provide shade over the water. They will provide numerous essential services that intact lands provide to us (the humans) and to all other living creatures.
Good for the board.
Someone is looking more than three months into our future. Our state and our planet will be better places as a result of this sound management.
Jim Lazar
Olympia
