Planning for timber harvesting on Washington’s school trust lands is back on track following settlement of a lawsuit brought last fall by environmental groups.

The settlement ends a legal dispute over a ten-year "sustainable harvest calculation" for 1.4 million acres of state forests in western Washington. The original plan, approved by the state Board of Natural Resources (BNR) in September of 2004, called for significantly increasing the average yearly harvest in state forests, which include Common School Trust Lands.

Much of the revenue from school trust land timber sales is dedicated to construction and renovation of public schools in Washington’s K-12 system.

Under the settlement, the BNR will revise the 10-year harvest calculation to reflect elements of the agreement, which includes increased protection for spotted owl and salmon habitat.

Other key elements of the agreement include:

• Commitment by all the parties to improved communication and a structured dispute resolution process designed to forestall future court battles;
• Greater flexibility to proceed with management of trust lands to produce trust revenue consistent with the BNR’s directions, with reduced likelihood of legal challenges; and
• Testing of innovative forestry practices through demonstration projects and modeling;

Speaking for the defendants in the suit, state Lands Commissioner Sutherland applauded the settlement. "The real strength of this agreement is that it is guided by best available science, including our federally approved habitat conservation plan. It also serves the best interest of the trust beneficiaries and allows for active stewardship of the state trust lands as directed by the Board of Natural Resources."

"We’re pleased that this settlement has satisfied all sides and will allow DNR to move ahead with their planned timber harvests which will benefit our school construction fund," said WSSDA President Quent Goodrich (Chimacum). "A lot of credit goes to Commissioner Sutherland and the staff of DNR who were able to negotiate this issue without a long, drawn-out legal battle which would have stopped the flow of funds from our school trust lands".

"This settlement is good for the forests and the people of Washington. It provides more protection for older forests which are important to wildlife, increases thinning to improve habitat, and tests innovative forestry that can increase both revenue and environmental benefits," said Joan Crooks, Executive Director of the Washington Environmental Council. "It also gives more certainty to the schools and communities who benefit from these forests."

Bob Dick, representing the interveners, said, "This agreement allows for a return to implementation of the HCP and sustainable revenue production, within the Department’s resources and recognizing the goals of all the parties."