The Teanaway Community Forest serves as a model for forest restoration across Washington by bringing people and nature together.
Nestled in the mountains of the Central Cascades, the Teanaway Community Forest (50,241 acres) is the first state-owned community forest in Washington. The forest encompasses 400 miles of free-flowing streams and prime habitat for fish and wildlife.
Community forests are working forests owned and managed by municipalities, government agencies, Tribes, and non-profit organizations for the benefit of local communities. These forests enable community members to participate as stakeholders in forest management decisions and to develop land management plans that balance multiple objectives.
For the past ten years, the Teanaway Community Forest has been co-managed by the WA Department of Natural Resources and the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, with an advisory committee made up of local community members. During this time, partners have come together to accomplish transformative restoration efforts including wildfire prevention and stream restoration, creating a healthier forest that benefits people, fish, and wildlife.
Fully embracing the community's vision for the Teanaway requires accelerating restoration efforts, increasing recreation opportunities, building climate resilience of the landscape, and improving education and outreach. DNR has requested the funds necessary to support this work, but only part of this request has been met. Additional funding is needed to cover crucial pieces of wildlife habitat restoration, road maintenance, and recreation.
DNR and community partners are committed to achieving these outcomes, and ask the Washington State Legislature to fully fund DNRβs community forests Operations and Maintenance request. TNC looks forward to seeing the Teanaway Community Forest reach its full potential as a place where people and nature thrive.
Banner photo: Teanaway Community Forest and Plum Creek lands seen from Roslyn Ridge, Washington.
Β© Benjamin Drummond
Washingtonβs landmark climate law takes effect on January 1 β and you can still help shape it!
This week, the 2022 Washington state legislative session concluded, with a few notable achievements for the environment in our state. Here at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, we built off the achievements from the 2021 session by securing investments and action in key climate and conservation areas.
We are thankful to have many environmental advocates in the Washington state Legislature, but with limited time, weβre calling on leadership to ensure climate, wildlife, and our lands arenβt sidelined as we make it over the finish line.
This year, the Washington state Legislature has the opportunity to pass funding to build green stormwater infrastructure under the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in downtown Seattle, the busiest freeway corridor in the state.
A clean and just transportation package would greatly transform Washington while helping achieve the stateβs climate goals, reducing emissions, and investing in a greener and more equitable future for all Washingtonians.
Read about two major ways the Legislature can help salmon recovery efforts this year, and how you can help make it happen!
Speak up for forests, trees and the people who depend on them by urging your legislators to support the Keep Washington Evergreen proposal this session.
The success of the 2021 legislative session wouldnβt have been possible without the leadership of Tribal nations, Black- and Latinx-led organizations, and voices from communities of color calling for progress on climate justice.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life, no matter where they live, which languages they speak or how much money they have. The HEAL Act is a step in that direction.
The state House of Representatives passed historic climate legislation today.
The Legislature is close to several BIG wins for people and nature β can you help get us across the finish line?
Here is a highlight of our most recent media successes related to fire funding and House Bill 1168, featuring a few of our own Nature Conservancy staff members!
Washington and the world urgently need climate action, and that action must not be taken in a way that exacerbates harm in communities already overburdened by pollution and other impacts of climate change.
Our spirits are high as we pass the halfway point in the 105-day Washington state legislative session. Many top priority policies have made it past the first major policy deadline, known as βHouse of Origin cutoff,β when bills introduced in the House must be approved by a House floor vote, and likewise in the Senate.
Why do we keep asking you to βsign inβ on bill proposals? If youβve signed in once, do you need to do it again?
Letβs make progress toward environmental justice in Washington with the HEAL Act.
Public conservation and natural resource programs really work - not just for restoring wildlife habitat and functioning ecosystems, but by supporting good jobs that often involve spending time in beautiful places.
The 2021 session - in Olympia and online - can mean a LOT of progress for people and nature in Washington.
Your voice makes a difference. Your actions matter. And thereβs no time to wait - people and nature need everyone to learn, share and act toward a better future today.
Thereβs one simple, powerful thing you can do for nature and people: vote. Take the opportunity to elect leaders who share your values.