Public lands commissioner calls on Legislature to approve, fund conservation of state forests

By: Aspen Ford

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: September 25, 2026

Words: 1,026

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove is dialing back his goal to protect 77,000 acres of older state forests from timber harvest even as he asks lawmakers to give him more tools to do so.

On Thursday, the first-term commissioner dropped the figure to 55,000 acres, blaming the reduction in part on mapping errors.

While those forests are now exempt from logging through 2030, Upthegrove is banking on the state Legislature …

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