Natural Resources & Manufacturing
Forest Practices
One-third of the United States, or 730 million acres, is covered with trees. In Washington State, approximately 4.6 million acres of land are owned by industrial forest products companies, and another 3.2 million acres are privately owned. The Washington State Legislature declared the state’s forest land resources among the most valuable resources in the state. Yet to transform those assets into a sustainable forest products industry is often a significant challenge—one that requires deep knowledge of the law, understanding of best forest practices, and the ability to balance the nuances of increasingly complex regulations with the goals of the forester.
Forest practice regulation in Washington has grown exponentially over the last 15 years, spurred on by adoption of the Growth Management Act in 1990, the listing of the northern spotted owl under the Endangered Species Act, and the listing of numerous salmon species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Natural Resources & Manufacturing Industries Team includes some of the leading forestry lawyers in the state of Washington. They have helped clients with:
- Challenges to the validity of forest practices rules
- Defending and prosecuting appeals to the Forest Practices Appeals Board
- Resolving wildlife and fisheries conflicts with forest practices
- Negotiating and defending tribal challenges to forest practices
- Resolving issues related to the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act as they affect forest practices
- Due diligence on forest land purchase and sales
