Click “Start Writing” to urge your state legislators to invest in mature forest conservation this legislative session!

We are in the midst of this year’s legislative session, and legislators are making important budget decisions as we speak. Right now, there is an opportunity to invest in the future of mature forests, but we need your help to make it happen!

Over the past two years, the state legislature has invested $98 million of Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds to conserve 2,300 acres of mature forests in Whatcom, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Jefferson, and Clallam counties, and replace over 5,900 acres of encumbered lands in impacted timber counties. These investments have permanently protected some of our best natural climate solutions to combating the climate crisis, while also growing our public lands base overall. However, the demand from counties to protect their threatened mature forests far exceeded this original investment. There are still approximately 75,000 acres of older state forests that, if conserved, would avoid approximately 35 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.

Fortunately, there is another opportunity this year to invest additional CCA funds to conserve more mature forests, acquire more replacement lands for encumbered counties, and implement climate-smart forestry practices to restore unhealthy forestlands.

Decisions are being made now, and lawmakers need to know how valuable this investment is to building healthy and climate-resilient communities. Click “START WRITING” to send a pre-written message to your legislators urging them to continue to conserve mature forests and buy replacement lands for economically impacted rural counties using CCA funds in this year’s budget.

Strong public support for conserving mature forests is what secured funding for the past two years. Your voice truly matters and is an important force in protecting our remaining mature forests from being clearcut. Make your voice heard today!

Note: this is only being sent to Democrats. You will not be able to send this action if you live in a district with no Democrats.